My Aggie Girl
Austin/Tonopah FS Ranger District, Comments due by March 19, 2010
Posted by Texas Mustang Project on March 12, 2010
February 24, 2010 – Notice of Proposed Action and Opportunity to Comment: “The Austin and Tonopah Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest welcomes your comments on the Wild Horse and Burro Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs) Project. The purpose of this project is to update or establish AMLs and set general management direction for the Wild Horse and Burro territories (WHTs) on the Monitor, Hot Creek, and Toquima Mountain Ranges. We would like your thoughts on the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis (EA) and your comments on the proposed action.” “Territory management plans for joint FS/BLM management and monitoring of the wild horse resource are nonexistent or outdated.” Battle Mountain Field Office and Tonopah Field Station, Wild Horse and Burro Population Tables *The 11 WHTs that are affected by this proposed action are located in the Monitor, Hot Creek, & Toquima Mountain Ranges. Because these WHTs are adjacent to BLM administered public lands in these areas, BLM and FS would collaborate on proposed actions regarding wild horses and burros affected. Within the eleven WHTs, there are 21 cattle allotments administered by the FS (14 active and 7 vacant). (See pdf document, page 6, Table 1 for grazing information.) Monitor Wild Horse Territory – History & Info from the FS WHTs Kelly Creek, Butler Basin, Dobbin Summit, Sevenmile, Little Fish Lake, Monitor North, Stone Cabin, and Monitor South (located within the Monitor and Hot Creek Mountain Ranges). Hickison Burro, Northumberland, and Toquima (located within the Toquima Mountain Range). All are under the jurisdiction of the Austin/Tonopah Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Contact: District Ranger, P.O. Box 130, Austin, NV 89310, (775)964-2671 HMAs – Saulsbury, Antelope, Hot Creek, and Willow Creek. These are under the jurisdiction of the BLM Battle Mountain District Field Offices – Tonopah & Mount Lewis. Battle Mountain District Office, (Employee Directory)
50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820, Phone: 775-635-4000 , Fax: 775-635-4034, Email: bmfoweb@nv.blm.gov, District Manager: Gerald Smith Tonopah Field Office, 1553 South Main Street, P.O. Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049, Phone: 775-482-7800, Fax: 775-482-7810, Field Manager: Tom Seley Mount Lewis Field Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820, Phone: 775-635-4000, Field Manager: Doug Furtado
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LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE SEND COMMENTS AND HOW. DO WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL COMMENT SHEET OF SOME SORT, OR CAN WE JUST SEND A LETTERS?
tracielynnthompson@yahoo.com said
Emails or letters are best. The contact info listed in the post will work, or if you want further offices beyond them, jump over to the Documents & Evidence page & scroll down to “Contact Info”. All of the FS offices in the lower 48 are listed there as well as the National Offices. Word of advice: Look over the document really well, specifically the years since the last change in status.
T.
sandra longley said
Louie I contacted Cloud with the information and hope they will set up a petition to click on, but time is short..I would like to see some discussion about this so we know what we are talking about..is this a good thing? It seems as if the two gov. org. are working together-does it benifit the horses, I would like to get the input of some nevada horse advocates who might be familiar with this range-as it is somewhat unique…and a tough place to make a living for horses…would be invaluable
sandra longley said
In refrence to WHT contained on Forest Service lands..the 2008 data show for the western region of the US:
Cattle:1,168,814 head on 5 million acres
Sheep & Goats:864,131 on 2 miullion acres
Horses:5,983 on 28,000acres
I read this and thought surely that has to be a misprint,,nevertheless-the contrast in numbers of horses allowed to graze on forest service land vs cattle and sheep is completely out of wack..This is an imbalance that has to be corrected. Oregon has zeroed out 2 forest sevice herds-murders creek and ochoco herds in the last year. I looked at the kelly creek unit in this group at tonapah, where there are NO horses as stated and this seems to be prime summer ground-full of streams and high meadows and appears to have the water resources needed for the horses in summer..Also as I looked at each indivdual unit in this grouping-I find they have listed..mountain lions..yet I saw no information in the pdf about predation and that reflected in the numbers of horses allowed..please address this in comments to the offices.
LOUIE COCROFT said
THEY ARE MOVING SO FAST WITH THESE ROUND-UPS, THAT IT JUST SEEMS THAT THEY NEED TO BE STOPPED, PERIOD. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE SORTED OUT. WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS MOVEMENT THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND ARE READY TO JUMP IN AND DO THE NECESSARY ASSESSMENTS. I THINK THAT IS WHAT OUR GOAL IS. AT LEAST, THAT IS HOW I AM READING IT.
themustangproject said
I couldn’t agree with you more. I find myself so physically and mentally exhausted that I can barely keep up myself. What I mean is that I am trying to keep up with everything and everyone so much that I can barely keep my own body going LOL. I know that if I am barely getting through all of this without stumbling over my own feet at every other step, there is no way that a department as large as the BLM and the WH&B Program can be doing it. I think we are all feeling the same thing, and that we are all very invested in this campaign because of our love of the horses and burros. But its not just because of that love. Its because of a higher cause… WE ALL KNOW THAT SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING TO THEM IS JUST NOT RIGHT! I am not trying to say that everything being done is wrong. I know personally that there are a whole lot of things that are being done right. I know personally that there are people within these departments who truly do care about the well-being, health and proper treatment of these horses. So I don’t blame those people. I do blame the ones who are keeping them from implementing the policies and procedures that they know to be right!
I am on a personal mission currently. I don’t want to give too many details just yet because I want to be able to give all of it at once, to ensure that I haven’t missed anything. But I will say this: Our fight is not in vain! There are people within these programs who do care! There are people who want better for these horses! They want things to change just as much as we do. And they are trying! We have to continue what we are doing. We have to! They need our help. Because when we help them, we are helping the horses. They are in the middle of this fight just as much as the horses are because they are the ones who are caring for the horses in one aspect or another, whether it be the actual care of them or making decisions about what happens to them.
I don’t have the details nailed down yet. As soon as I do, rest assured that you and everyone else who has ever even looked at a computer will know them. In the meantime, I still have to strongly encourage each one of you to continue reading these environmental assessments, continue reading the EIS documents, and don’t dare slack off… I know we are all tired. I know we are all stressed. But I really do believe that now is the time to step up our efforts even more. Strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.
Sorry for getting off on a rabbit trail a bit LOL. T.
Suzanne Moore said
Yes, I agree that we all have the desire to shout, “What is the dad-danged RUSH?!” Why is it so seemingly unreasonable to ask for a moratorium on the roundups while things can be sorted out? They always reply as if we’ve asked for a permanent halt, and NEVER address the idea of a temporary halt and why they can’t even do THAT.
I mean, if everything is on the up and up….
sandra longley said
The Ruby Pipeline is due to start the first part of April, can’t be running those wild horses over top of everybody digging that 40 ft ditch.
LOUIE COCROFT said
I AM LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, AND I AM NOT LIKING THE LOOKS OF IT.
PRIVATE RANCH LEASED–NO HUMANE OBSERVERS ALLOWED DURING PROCESSING–LIMITED PUBLIC VIEWING
NOT ALL THAT FAR FROM MEXICO BORDER
MAR POSTED THE PROPOSED SHIPMENT OF GELDINGS-800 TO 1200 NORTH TO SPANISH Q RANCH IN MONTANA. NOT THAT FAR FROM CANADIAN BORDER.
ILLINOIS REP. SACIA (SPELLING?) LOOKING TO OVERTHROW HORSE SLAUGHTER BAN AND REOPEN CAVAL IF HE CAN GET BY WITH IT.
I SEE BROADER AGENDA AND BIG PLANS FOR WILD HORSES AND LOTS OF MONEY TO BE MADE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, GRABBING OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE, I HAVE FELT THAT, TOO. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE PEOPLE WITHIN THE BUREAU THAT ARE AS MUCH AGAINST THESE CRIMES AS WE ARE. THEY ARE STUCK. THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR JOBS. THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FAMILIES TO CARE FOR. WHAT CAN THEY D0? THEY WOULD LOVE TO WORK FOR AN AGENCY THAT THEY COULD BE PROUD OF. I HAVE ALWAYS PLACED THE BLAME AT THE TOP. THE RANK AND FILE WORKER JUST GETS TO DO THE DIRTY WORK, TAKE THE HEAT, AND IS CONSIDERED REPLACEABLE. THE THING THAT I DON’T THINK THE “IMPORTANT” PEOPLE REALIZE IS THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERED REPLACEABLE, ALSO. THE REAL POWER AND MONEY BEHIND THIS PUSH STAYS IN THE BACKGROUND AND USES THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
THE POWER THAT WE HAVE IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE DRIVEN BY COMPASSION AND COMPELLED BY A SENSE OF JUSTICE. STRONG POWERS STAND WITH US, AS WELL, AND WE ARE WORKING 24/7. WE ALL TAKE SHIFTS.
themustangproject said
You hit the nail on the head. The “important” people really are not as important as they arrogantly believe themselves to be. This is where I have begun to focus my attentions in regard to attempting to implement change. The people who are “on the ground” (so to speak) and who are in the offices that really do care are not the ones I want to hurt vs. help. They have enough on their plates as it is because they want the change as much as we do.
Yes, we do have a very strong collection of powers that drives us on this journey. I am so very thankful for this fact. I don’t want to seem “sanctimonious” (LOL) but I am reminded of Psalm 23, 24, and 25. (click here) Not just from our positions, but from the positions of the horses and the people of which we are speaking.
T.
sandra longley said
How far you are willing to stick your kneck out is in direct porportion to how much you want to keep your job at that level..That is just the way it works in government..Our jobs are NOT on the line-with changes we are trying to make..citizens can work as a bottom up organization…grass roots..by putting pressure on politicians who are elected, not hired…An employee in “government” has to implement policy, There are a few things you can tinker with..but you do not set policy, nor do you influence it..They may not agree with it..but look over at open DOI…they feel the frustion at those levels over obviously needed changes system wide, not just in BLM WH&B.
themustangproject said
This is even more true than I have ever known it to be in the past. I understand politics, and I understand government, and I understand even more how the two end up being really… well… they suck. Working in this environment sucks even more. But not until recently have I understood just how broad this frustration, anger, and resentment is at the level of the BLM and WH&B Program. What is so amazing to me is how this whole time that we have been in this fight, we have been attacking the wrong people. We have always thought that it was this one or that one, when in fact it’s not them, it’s their bosses… and their bosses… and then their bosses! At this point, I am trying to figure out the ones who are really to blame and then direct my energies not at the ones who want the changes, but the ones who won’t allow them to take place. And as well, to find out why they don’t the changes. (Other than the obvious reasons LOL).
T.
Suzanne Moore said
I don’t claim to be an expert here because I’ve not been on this full time like so many of you. I’m an import from the anti-slaughter ranks who started working both sides when the BLM started talking slaughter for the wild ones. Anyway…
I think Bob Abbey may be someone who has to answer for a lot of the policy. He won’t even answer Steve Long’s (Horseback Magazine)requests for an interview, and I’ve seen him on videos, and he seems SO danged arrogant. “The horses don’t belong on the range,” he says with a sneering superiority that make me want to kick my computer screen while screaming, “They’re a **** of a lot closer to native than those ****** CATTLE!!” Fortunately I stifled that urge.
Speaking of Horseback magazine, the reason I started this post was the comment they have from a former BLM employee. Fits right in with what you’re saying, Tracie.
http://www.horsebackmagazine.com/
LOUIE COCROFT said
SO WE COMMENT TO THE TWO DISTRICT FIELD OFFICES?
themustangproject said
I would say all of them… They are all involved, so they all need comment. Its the only way they are all going to stay on the same page LOL.
T.
LOUIE COCROFT said
I THINK WE ALL NEED A BIT OF JUST COMPARING NOTES. IT HELPS RECHARGE US AND KEEPS US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. COME OVER TO THE CLOUD FOUNDATION BLOG AND YOU CAN EVEN GET A LAUGH SOMETIMES. WE DO HAVE FUN ON THE WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FUNNY MIX-UPS LATELY, BUT ALL IS WELL.
LOUIE COCROFT said
SO IT’S:
AUSTIN/TONOPAH RANGER DISTRICTS
BATTLE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT OFFICE
TONOPAH FIELD OFFICE
MOUNT LEWIS FIELD OFFICE
HAVE I GOT THAT RIGHT? I AGREE WITH SANDRA. I WOULD PREFER TO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT BEFORE I COMMENT.
themustangproject said
As far as I know, yes
T
LOUIE COCROFT said
I SEE ON MADELEINE PICKEN’S WEBSITE THAT THAT SLAUGHTER BILL IN ILLINOIS WAS STOPPED. THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING FOR IT.
sandra longley said
Hah, one small victory at a time! Now we need to hit WYO. hard..focus on getting those groups in Jackson Hole involved…I would imagine they could get steamed up..Its beyond slaughter, in that they are trying to start a horsemeat market in the US..starting in WYO –by forcing the poor people to eat horsemeat..like we are some kind of 3rd world nation…
themustangproject said
I heard about this one yesterday too. (The conversation didn’t start out that way, but kind of ended up there before it was over with.) From what I could tell from the “gossip” they are basically saying that they have a large number of people who could benefit from the horsemeat vs. beef. Their reasoning was the nutritional value of each vs. the other; horsemeat being more lean, higher protein, lower cholesterol, etc. I am not sure what they are basing this on, like any studies of the people in need, which I highly doubt they have done. But at any rate, their statement’s about the nutritional values are true. I only mention this because it seems to be their reasoning so far – obviously I’m playing the devil’s advocate again.
T.
sandra longley said
This whole idea just seems like 3rd world economics..yes in china, mexico,ect..they eat dogs and cats too..When I was working in LA, I quit eating chinease food.In the district we were working I only saw 1 dog and no cats-ever..seriously..and that dog was a gaurd dog..rottie.
themustangproject said
I heard something about that yesterday. I had seen the news feed come across recently about the bill coming up for a vote but I hadn’t heard yet whether or not it had passed or was denied. Do you know any of the details of it? If so, can you post the link? I am interested in what the vote was (percentage, etc.) and what – if any – reasons were cited.
T.
LOUIE COCROFT said
SANDRA, MEANWHILE, THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ARE BEING ALLOWED TO PAVE OVER THE BEST FARMLAND.
themustangproject said
I am interested also in this… Not being a native to the West, I don’t know how the soils are, what their fertility is, and how much of the lands are viable farmlands. But their are obviously some really great places for this because there are so many in the West. For years, I have been a contributor to the Willie Nelson Farm Aid. I think its just horrible how the small farmers end up so desolate. (If you have never heard the story behind why there is a Farm Aid, you really should. Its so great!)
Being from a farming family myself, I understand all too well how hard it is to survive and make it on the farm alone. Sad to say, but my dad has always had to work outside of the farm in order to supplement the income, and its been several years ago now that we finally just stopped. My grandparents had been farming on the land we still live on since 1932. Much as we wanted to keep going with it, we just couldn’t anymore.
T.
Suzanne Moore said
That’s the way things are going here in Indiana. There are still a lot of family farms and ranches, but almost all of the men have a “day job” as well. Just too expensive to keep a farm or ranch going and too little payback. Still, it’s very rural here still.
We are 5 miles outside Warsaw, and only have a couple of neighbors – the rest is fields of corn or soybeans.
LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE, I THINK THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO HURT THE SMALL RANCHER OR FARMER WHEN WE ARE PUSHING FOR THE HORSES. SOME WANT ALL OF THE CATTLE OFF OF PUBLIC LANDS–I DON’T KNOW. I’M NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THOSE THINGS ENOUGH TO EVEN ENTER THE DISCUSSION. I DO THINK, THOUGH,THAT WE ARE PUSHING AGAINST THE SAME POWERS AND HAVE EVERY REASON TO STAND TOGETHER. STATS SHOW THAT 70% OF RANCHERS OWN THEIR OWN LAND AND DON’T DEPEND ON PUBLIC GRAZING. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING COULD BE WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE 30% OF RANCHERS THAT DO DEPEND ON PUBLIC GRAZING AND THE WILD HORSES, THAT ACCOUNT FOR LESS THAN 5% OF ANIMALS GRAZING ON IT.
LOUIE COCROFT said
I KNOW WE ARE TALKING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT IT ALL CROSSES OVER, I THINK. IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE SMALL,INDEPENDENT BUSINESS PERSON. YOU HAVE TO BE A VERY SMART BUSINESS PERSON TO RUN A RANCH OR A FARM. EVERYONE ON THE PLANET IS PUSHING AGAINST THE GIANT CORPORATE POWERS. IT IS THE COMBINED STRENGHT AND HARD WORK OF ALL THOSE “LITTLE PEOPLE” THAT MADE THIS COUNTRY WHAT IT IS. THERE, THAT’S MY SPEECH FOR TODAY.
LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE,AS FAR AS THE ARGUMENT FOR HORSES AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE GO, LET THOSE PEOPLE KNOW HOW THE PROCESS IS REALLY ACCOMPLISHED–LISTENED TO VICKIE FOR EQUINE ALLIANCE WELFARE ON RADIO. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW HOW SLAUGHTER HOUSES REALLY OPERATE AND WHAT REALLY HAPPENS TO THOSE HORSES.
themustangproject said
Yea, I brought that and several other points up… It seems that in these cases – for the most part anyway – the ends justify the means. I don’t agree.
T.
LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE, DO THOSE PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE HEART HAS TO STAY BEATING SO THAT THEY BLEED OUT FASTER–THEY ARE NOT KILLED FIRST, JUST STUNNED. ONE OF THE PEOPLE THERE SAID THAT THE ASSEMBLY LINE HAS 30 MINUTES TO SHACKLE AND HOIST THE ANIMAL UP SIDE DOWN.
themustangproject said
You know, I’m not sure now that you mention it. To me and you, that would seem like common sense, but I have long given up on believing that everyone has at least some common sense. Send me some links to look into and I’ll see what I can dig up.
T.
Suzanne Moore said
Oh yes! And, since horses are frequently not properly stunned – cattle equipment does NOT work for horses – they often regain consciousness while hanging by one leg on the line and are quite aware when their jugular is slashed. They die by bleeding out.
Remember, I’m an anti-slaughter advocate from waaaaay back – like 1980.
LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE, I DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL I LISTENED TO THE RADIO SHOW. IT WAS HARD TO LISTEN TO, BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REMIND YOURSELF THAT THE HORSES DON’T GET TO CHOOSE. ALL THEY HAVE IS US.
LOUIE COCROFT said
TRACIE, I ANSWERED, BUT COMMENT DIDN’T SUBMIT. EQUINE WELFARE ALLIANCE WOULD BE A GOOD GROUP THAT CAN GIVE YOU LOTS OF INFO.
LOUIE COCROFT said
ANIMAL LAW COALITION IS ANOTHER.
LOUIE COCROFT said
SUZANNE, THAT IS WHY EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR THE COLD, HARD FACTS.
LOUIE COCROFT said
SUZANNE, I HAD NOT EVEN KNOWN “THE REST OF THE STORY” UNTIL RECENTLY. GUESS THAT IS WHY I AM STLL SO INTENSE.