April 23rd, 2012 | 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
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>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO START IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES. GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR AGENDA AS -- AGENDAS. IF YOU ARE CONFUSED, I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SERVING AS AN TRUNK SHARE. TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION, IT IS A DIFFICULT SET OF SHOES TO STEP INTO. RABIN HAS DONE IT FOR A LONG TIME. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE NUANCES OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH IT AND THE HORSES. BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROCKLIN FOR THE YEAR SHE HAS PUT IN. [APPLAUSE] SECONDLY, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THIS MORNING TO THE NEVADA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN CARSON CITY, AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE HORSE PROGRAM GOING ON OUT THERE. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IF THERE IS A BRIGHT SPOT ON THE HORIZON, WE ALL TEND TO GO TO THESE MEETINGS AND WATCH THE PROGRAM -- THAT FACILITY OUT OF THERE IS A BRIGHT SPOT AND EMBLEMATIC OF A LOT OF THE GOOD THINGS GOING ON IN THIS PROGRAM. WE SAW SOME SUPPORT OF THINGS. WE SAW SOME INMATES WORKING WITH HORSES. THERE WERE LEARNT -- LEARNING SOME OF THE SAME LESSONS THEY WERE TRYING TO RELATE AND TEACH TO THEIR HORSES. PERSONALLY, I ENJOYED GOING OUT THERE. WE HAD CAMP GRANT, THE LEAD OF THE FACILITY, AND WE HAD THE LEAD TRAINER. HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THAT ENDEAVOR. THE NEXT THING IS INTRODUCTIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND SO THAT THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING CAN GET AN IDEA WHO IS SERVING.
>> ROBERT, RESEARCH ADVISER AND POINT ON THE BOARD. MY BACKGROUND HAS BEEN WITH HORSES ALL MY LIFE. FARMS. I HAVE A DOCTORATE IN ANIMAL NUTRITION, SPECIALIZING IN EQUINE NUTRITION. I WAS SPECIALIZING FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. NOW I CONSOLED A MAJORITY OF MY KIDS. BACKGROUND WITH HORSES OUTSIDE OF THE ACADEMIC ASPECT AND THE RESEARCH HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH EXTENSIONS . THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HORSES PERSONALLY, AND I HAVE PACKED IN CERES FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS. I CONDUCTED RESEARCH WITH WILD HORSES. AS I TOLD ONE OF THE INMATES, HORSES WERE IS SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY LIFE AS A CHILD AFTER THE TRAGIC LOSS OF A BROTHER. I DO SEE HOW HORSES OF A BIG INFLUENCE ON THEM. I AGREE WITH YOU, HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH WHAT THEY HAD DONE. NOT JUST FROM THE HORSE ASPECT OF WITH THEM AS INDIVIDUALS.
>> YES, MY NAME IS JUNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL MUSTANG ASSOCIATION. I SERVED ON THE BOARD. THIS IS MY VERY FIRST MEETING. AS THE WILD HORSE AND BUREAU ADVOCACY. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THE HORSE PROGRAM EVOLVES. WE MAINTAIN SANCTUARY WHERE WE CAN KEEP UP TO 72 HORSES. THEY'RE ALL PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROGRAM. WE TAKE THOSE COURSES MAY BE FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ADOPTED A HORSE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP IT FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, AND WOULD PREFER FOR IT NOT TO GO TO SLAUGHTER. SO IF WE TAKE THAT COURSE AND IT GETS TO LIVE ITS LIFE AT THE SAME AS IT WOULD BE WHEN IT WAS IN THE WILD. WE ALSO WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING THE PRISON PROGRAM, AS WE SAW TODAY HERE IN CARSON CITY AND IN UTAH. IT IS IN ITS INFANCY. IT HAS NOT PROGRESSED AS MUCH AS THE ONE HERE. WE FEEL VERY PROUD OF OUR INVESTMENT IN THAT PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS AN ADVANTAGE TO THE INMATES AS WELL AS TO THE WHO HORSES ON IN AT THE PROGRAM.
>> SENSITIVITY, MAINE ADVOCACY AND HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR TWO YEARS -- WILL I AM TIM, MAIN ADVOCACY. "THEY CHANGED A LOT OF THE PROTOCOLS, AND THERE WERE QUITE INHUMANE. WHY HAD A STRONG INTEREST WITH MUSTANG HERDS FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING MY OWN FOR 15 YEARS. I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING THEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE REST OF MY TERM. WE WILL SEE CHANGES ARE MADE.
>> HELLO. I AM JULIE, A NATIVE. THE I GREW UP RIDING MUSTANGS. I DO NOT WANT TO AGE MYSELF TOO MUCH, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE ACT. I HAVE BEEN A HORSE PERSON MY WHOLE LIFE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, EITHER AS A PART-TIME TRAINER, FALLING OUT MARES, GIVING LESSONS, COMPETING AS AN AMATEUR. IN 1999, I WAS APPOINTED TO THE STATE WILD HORSE COMMISSION. IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO BE PART OF THAT COMMISSION, BECAUSE WE FORMED THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THAT WE SAW TODAY, AS WELL AS THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. THOSE ARE TWO GREAT PROGRAMS TO BE A PART OF, AND I WAS PROUD OF EVERYTHING I SAW TODAY. I REPRESENT -- I WOULD NOT REPRESENT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IF I DID NOT SAY THAT. I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> I AM A LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARIAN PRACTITIONER FROM NEVADA. I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE WORKING ON HORSES AND PRACTICING AND USING OUR OWN HORSES. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WE RUN ABOUT 20 HORSES IN ONE PLACE. BUT WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF EXPOSURE. YES THE BEGINNING MY THIRD TERM ON THE BOARD. WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND BEAT -- PASS IT ON.
>> MY NAME IS GARY ZAKOTNIK AND I AM FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WYOMING. I REPRESENT LIVESTOCK ON THE BOARD. WE ARE LAND RANCHERS. WE HAVE ONE ALLOTMENT AS PART OF ASHERD MANAGEMENT -- AS PART OF THE HERD MANAGEMENT AREA. THERE IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HORSE PROGRAM IN SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING. THEN WE HAVE AN ALIGNMENT THAT JUST AS HORSES. I SEE AND THEM INVOLVED WITH HORSES EVERY DAY, WILD HORSES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM CALLIE HENDRICKSON FROM WESTERN COLORADO. I SPEND MOST OF MY ENTIRE LIFE WITHIN 100 MILES OF GRAND JUNCTION, AND I AM THE PUBLIC APPOINTEE ON TO THE BOARD. I THINK I HAVE A RATHER VARIED BACKGROUND, COMING OVER BY EURO VAN, AND THEN I WENT THROUGH THELAMAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE HORSE TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. TRAINED HORSES PROFESSIONALLY FOR ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT YEARS. DECIDED WANTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND BECOME A SCHOOL TEACHER. SO I STUDIED THIS BUSINESS IN GENERAL, HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN OFFICE ADMINISTRATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN MARKETING. FROM THERE, I TAUGHT SCHOOL AND ACTUALLY TAUGHT UP AT THE JOB CORPS, SO TODAY WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING DAY. THOSE WERE A LOT OF AT-RISK STUDENTS THAT WE HAD THERE, AND I REALLY ENJOYED DOING THAT. I CAN SEE THE VALLEY BETWEEN THE HORSES AND THE KIDS WHO WERE AT- RISK AT THAT POINT. FROM THERE, I WENT TO WORK FOR THE COLORADO ASSOCIATION CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. IT FOCUSED ON THE WIDE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES WITHIN THE STATE OF COLORADO, AND THEN I GOT PRETTY INVOLVED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL. WORD FOR THE STATE CONSERVATION BOARD UNDER THE STATE OF COLORADO FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND NOW WORKING FOR TWO INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS THAT ARE KIND OF HOME TO THE MAJORITY OF THE KIND OF HORSES IN COLORADO. THAT IS WHERE I REALLY GOT MORE INVOLVED IN A RANGE LAND HEALTH ISSUES AND THE HORSES. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID AND ALWAYS WILL SAY IS HORSES ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A PART OF MY LIFE. THAT IS SOMETHING I DEARLY ENJOY AND CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAT DIRECTION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND HELP OUT WITH THE BOARD'S DECISION. SO THANK YOU.
>> I AM PAUL DURBIN. I AM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. I GREW UP IN NORTHERN NEVADA AND HAVE LIVED IN WORKED IN THE NORTHERN NEVADA MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE UNTIL MOVING TO ARIZONA ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO. OVER THESE YEARS, I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY WILDLIFE ORGANIZATIONS, A FEW OF WHICH ARE LISTED IN MY BIO, AS WELL AS MANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. EVERYTHING FROM HABITAT RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE TO LOCATIONS AND SO FORTH. THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR ON THE BOARD.
>> I AM JAMES STEPHENSON . THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD. I HAVE BEEN TO ONE MEETING SO FAR. I SPENT THE LAST 16 YEARS WORKING FOR THE YAKAMA INDIAN NATION IN WASHINGTON, SOUTH- CENTRAL WASHINGTON. THEY ARE BIG GAME BIOLOGIST. I ALSO HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT FOR WILD HORSES. WE HAVE SUMMER AROUND 15,000 HEAD ON ABOUT 400,000 ACRES -- SOMEWHERE AROUND 15,000 HAD APPEARED I HAVE TO ADMIT, I HAD ANOTHER MOTIVE FOR GETTING ON THE BOARD. THAT WAS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW MANY INDIAN FORCES ARE -- THE TOTAL NUMBER EXCEEDS THE NUMBER ON BOM LAND. WE HAVE A NATIONAL TRIBAL HORSE COALITION, UP TO SIX TRIBES. AREN'T SPRINGS, -- ORANGE SPRINGS, YAKAMAS, NAVAJOS. NAVAJOS HAVE 70,000 HEAD OF HORSES. THERE ARE LIKELY AT LEAST 100,000 HEAD OF HORSES RUNNING LOOSE AT THIS TIME. I GREW UP IN SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. I DROVE DOWN HERE, AND I REALLY HAVE A REAL LOVE FOR THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, NORTHERN NEVADA AND SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE HORSES, THE POPULATION'S MANAGED AT A PROPER LEVEL. MY EXPERIENCE, I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. THANK YOU.
>> OK. WITH THAT, I GUESS WE SHOULD INTRODUCE KATHY, OUR FACILITATOR FOR THE TWO-DAY TIME SPAN. DO YOU HAVE REMARKS?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OK, I WAS TRYING NOT TO HAVE MY BACK TO ANYBODY, BUT -- I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, SOME THAT ARE HERE AND AT SOME ALL OVER THE WEST TO WORK WITH THESE ISSUES ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, FOR YOUR INTEREST, YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR PASSION. WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN WE FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THINGS, ESPECIALLY IF WHAT WE FEEL IS AT ODDS WITH SOMEBODY ELSE'S PASSION, WE CAN HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME HEARING ONE ANOTHER. BUT THAT IS WHAT THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE FOR. FOR YOU TO HEAR, AS THE BOARD DOES, SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE BOARD, WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PROGRAM, TO LISTEN TO THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD RAISES, AND THEN AS IMPORTANTLY TOMORROW, TO SPEND SOME TIME YOURSELF PROVIDING SOME INPUT, PROVIDING SOME IDEAS, PROVIDING SOME FEEDBACK. WE WILL, MORE TOMORROW ABOUT THE WAY WE WILL DO THAT. I SUSPECT MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND IT HAS NOT CHANGED VERY MUCH. BUT WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN. WE'RE HERE TO LEARN, AND WE ARE HERE TO GET SOME VERY IMPORTANT WORK DONE. SO I WILL JUST HELP YOU MOVE ALONG WITH THAT TO THE GREED -- TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU NEED. I AM NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE AGENDA. YOU HAVE PROBABLY PICKED IT UP. FEEL FREE TO IF YOU HAVE NOT. I TRUST YOU CAN READ IT. BASICALLY, IT SAYS WE WILL SPEND A COUPLE OF HOURS THIS AFTERNOON DURING SOME UPDATES FOR THE BOARD. WE WILL SPEND A COUPLE HOURS TOMORROW MORNING DOING SOME UPDATES FOR THE BOARD. IN THE VERY IMPORTANT PART, AT 10:45 A.M., WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU WILL COME TO THE TABLE. YOU WILL ADDRESS THESE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AND YOU DO WANT TO SIGN UP BEFORE 10:00 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE COMMENT. 10:00 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING FOR PROVIDING COMMENTS. THAT IS A DIFFERENCE IN-IN SHEET THAN JUST SIGNING IN FOR TODAY -- THIS IS A DIFFERENT SIGN-IN SHEET THEN DECIDING IN FOUR TODAY. THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR TOMORROW. OH, I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO -- JUST INSIDE THE DOOR, THERE IS A RACK WITH A WONDERFUL SET OF FACT SHEETS. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK THEM UP, PLEASE DO. THERE ARE BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS. THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED HEALTHY RANGE EQUALS HEALTHY WILD HORSES AND BURROS. PUBLIC LAND VERSUS PRIVATE LAND. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IT IS NOT IN MY HAND. A VERY IMPORTANT SET OF FACT SHEETS. I THINK WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN THE PAST, SO PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. OTHER THAN THAT, SOME LITTLE RULES. WE USUALLY START ON TIME, BUT WE DID NOT DO THAT. SO LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH US TODAY. AND WE WILL START ON TIME AFTER TODAY'S BREAK. WE WILL TAKE THE BREAK AT 4:00 P.M. TO 4:15. WE WILL RESTART ON TIME, AND WE WILL START ON TIME TOMORROW MORNING. OTHER THAN THAT, HAVE A TERRIFIC MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ASK OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ED ROBERTSON TO GIVE US SOME REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU, BOYD. KATHY SORT OF STILL MY THUNDER WITH REGARD TO THINKING THE BOARD. I HAVE BEEN IN MY CURRENT POSITION FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND PLANNING. AND I BELIEVE THAT AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE STILL ON THE BOARD THAT WERE HERE WHEN I GOT HERE. I HAVE SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH THEM. [LAUGHTER] AND I AM LOOKING AT ROBIN IN THE AUDIENCEB THEOYD AND GARY -- IN THE AUDIENCE. BOYD AND GARY HAVE BEEN HERE. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WITH THE PROGRAM IN A MODE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CONSTANTLY IMPROVE AND MAKE THINGS BETTER AND WHERE WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MODIFY OUR PROGRAM AND TO MAKE IT BETTER, THIS ADVISORY BOARD SERVES A PHENOMENAL ROLE TO THE BLM, S ENVISIONED BY THE ACT. TO HELP GIVE US A SOUNDING BOARD FOR IDEAS. AND TO HELP PARTICIPATE WITH US IN THE DISCUSSION AND THE DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ISSUES AROUND PROTECTION OF THE HORSES AND BURROS, MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, OTHER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES, ALL THAT COME INTO PLAY AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THE MEMBERS HAVE A WIDE AND VARIED BACKGROUND. ALL OF THEM HAVE A PASSION FOR HORSES AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT THE HORSES ARE FOUND IN AND THE PUBLIC LANDS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE. AND WE ARE A LITTLE BEHIND HIM, BUT I WANT TO, PARTICULARLY AT FIRST, THANK ROBIN FOR HER TIME. SHE SPENT APPROXIMATELY 14 YEARS ON THAT THIS ISSUE OF MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERDS AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. SHE HAS PROVIDED INSTRUMENTAL ADVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO THIS BOARD ON ANIMAL WELFARE. HERD GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP. AND THE ROLE THAT BOYD IS ACTING IN TODAY HELPED US MOVE THE PROGRAM ALONG, HELPED US MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, AND OF COURSE HELPED US EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO ACHIEVE AML, A BETTER BIRD MANAGEMENT AREA, AND INITIATING NEW RESEARCH. AND THEN, IN PARTICULAR, HELPING WITH THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM AND WORKING ON THE NEW STRATEGY. THAT IS, AGAIN, PART OF WHAT I WOULD CALL A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS FOR THE WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM. ROBIN, YOUR SINCERITY, YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONSTANTLY CALL AND MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE PROGRAM HAS REALLY HELPED THIS BOARD BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE OVER YOUR TENURE, AND WE WILL MISS YOU. I DO HAVE A PLAQUE TO PRESENT TO YOU. AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE AFTER WORDS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW IT TO FOLKS RIGHT NOW. IT SAYS SPECIAL APPRECIATION -- [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
>> STAND HERE FOR A SEC. THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IS PROUD TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE, RECOGNIZING AND HONORING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD. FROM THE DURING 9, 1998 -- FEBRUARY 9, 1998 TO JANUARY 8, 2012. THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. ON BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, AND WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> EVERY GOOD LEADER REQUIRES A CO-LEADER. IN THAT ROLE, GARY ZAKOTNIK -- I CAN ALWAYS SAY YOUR NAME JUST WRONG, CAN'T I? GARY IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN ROBIN CANNOT BE THERE, AND HE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT. WE HAVE A SIMILAR PLAQUE TO YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AS CO-CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FROM 2002 TO 2011. IT, TOO, IS A BEAUTIFUL BLACK. THANK YOU, GARY. WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU AS WELL. [APPLAUSE]
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROBIN. SHE HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT BEING ON THE BOARD. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR ROBIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR HAVE HARD ACTS TO FOLLOW. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THINK JANET, WHO CANNOT BE HERE TODAY. JAN THAT -- JANET, AS OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MADE A LOT OF CONTRIBUTIONS. SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PROGRAM STRATEGY. SHE WAS ALWAYS OUT. SHE WOULD GO OUT TO ADOPTIONS AND MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE. SHE WOULD TRY TO BRING A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND HER PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARD AND TO THE BUREAU'S MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. SO WE WILL BE SENDING HER A PLAQUE FOR HER SERVICE ON THE BOARD. I HAD A FEW THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE NEW MEMBERS, AND YOU HAVE NOW MET JUNE, CALLIE, AND BOYD IS A RENEWED MEMBER, AND WE APPRECIATE THESE THREE OF YOU ALL BEING HERE. AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOUR TRANSITION ON TO THIS BOARD BE A GOOD ONE AND TO HELP -- AND I KNOW YOU'LL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS BACK IN KIND. I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE BLM EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE. JOHN, WHO I INTRODUCED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING AS OUR NEW DIVISION CHIEF FOR THE WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM. MARY, WHO IS AT THE TABLE. SHE IS CURRENTLY ACTING AS THE DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF. AND DEAN IS BACK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HELPING US GET SOME GUIDANCE OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND HELPING US WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM AND SOME OTHER THINGS. SALLY SPENCER, THE CHEERFUL SPIRIT. LILLY THOMAS, ALSO IN THE ANIMAL SPIRITS. -- ALSO A CHEERFUL SPIRIT. BEA IS IN THE BACK. RAMONA IS IN THE BACK. DON IS SITTING NEXT TO LILLY, AND HE WORKS IN AT THE PALOMINO VALLEY CENTER. OCH WE DO NOT HAVE JOE OR ALLEN FROM THE NEVADA OFFICE. WE HAVE RAUL, WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE NEVADA STATE PROGRAM. AND HEATHER IS STANDING IN THE BACK AS WELL. I THINK THAT IS OUR FOLKS, IN ADDITION TO KATHY, WHO YOU HAVE ALREADY MET. AMY? THAT IS RIGHT. AMY CAME OVER FROM CALIFORNIA. SO THANK YOU. THE FOREST SERVICE, WHO IS THIS BOARD ALSO WORKS FOR, IS REPRESENTED BY BARRY. RIGHT NOW, BARRY IS HELPING US. EVEN THOUGH HE IS IN THE FOREST SERVICE HEADQUARTERS, HE HAS BEEN DOING SOME SERVICE A FIRST OPERATIONS WITH US, HELPING US WITH OUR BLM PROGRAM TO SEE IF WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. AND HELPING WHILE ZACH IS OUT WEST ON THE TEL. BARRY AND TOM WENT OUT TO THE FACILITY AT CARSON CITY WITH US TODAY. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS I WANT TO MAKE. ONE IS WITH REGARD TO THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT ON OUR WEB PAGE, THAT WAS A CHALLENGE THAT BOB ABBEY GAVE US, AND IT IS ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING THAT TIM MIGHT BE ASKING, TO FIND WAYS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND THE MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM. WE HAD NUMEROUS SUBMISSIONS FROM OUR FIELD OFFICES COMMENTS AND SALLY AND JOHN WILL BE TALKING TO YOU A LITTLE LATER TODAY ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE FUNDING THROUGH THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE THE RANGE CONDITIONS AND ANIMAL HEALTH. I WILL NOT GO INTO THAT ANY MORE THAN THAT. LONG-TERM HOLDING PASTURE TOUR. THERE WILL BE A TOUR JUNE 9. YOU HAVE TO CONTACT US BY JUNE 1 IF YOU WANT TO GO. THAT IS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 9. EAST OF WICHITA, KANSAS, ABOUT 30 MILES IN EL DORADO, AS WE SAY IN THE SOUTH. IT WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THESE HORSES IN THEIR SETTINGS AND ON SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND. BY JUNE 1, YOU SHOULD CALL 866- 468-7826, AND I AM SURE THIS IS POSTED. VISITORS WILL BE SHUTTLED BY THE BLM FROM EL DORADO. TOMORROW MORNING FIRST THING, THERE WILL BE ABOUT A 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION ON SAGE GRASS. THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DETERMINED IN 2010 AND THAT THE GREATER SAGE GRASS WAS WARRANTED FOR LISTING. IT HAS A RAIN SCHACHT'S OF AN AREA BETWEEN OREGON, NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, ALL THE WAY BACK EAST TO THE DAKOTAS -- IT HAS A RANGE OF THAT AREA. THE BIRD IS LISTED, THEN IT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON EVERYTHING THAT WE DO ON PUBLIC LANDS. AND WE ARE IN THE PLANNING EFFORT WITH THE FOREST SERVICE -- WE'RE ENGAGED IN THE PLANNING EFFORT WITH THE FOREST SERVICE ON ONE OF THE MAJOR THREATS THAT THE SAGE GROUSE HAS, A LACK OF ADEQUATE, REGULATORY MECHANISMS. I'M SURE YOU'LL GET INTO THAT TOMORROW. FOR US, THAT MEANS OUR LAND USE PLANS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH OF A FOUNDATION OF PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT THE BIRD DOES NOT NEED TO BE LISTED. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A THREE-YEAR, TWO AND A HALF YEAR PLANNING EFFORT ACROSS THE RANGE. EVERY STATE OF BLM IN THAT RANGE IS ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. YOU WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN SAGE GROUSE HABITAT AND A WILD HORSE AND BURRO HABITAT. THAT TESTING COULD ALSO AFFECT BIRD MANAGEMENT AREAS. -- THAT LISTING COULD ALSO AFFECT BIRD MANAGEMENT AREAS. I WILL CONCLUDE MY WELCOME IN LEADERSHIP REMARKS. I DO APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMING OUT TODAY AND BEING HERE TODAY AND TOMORROW. I LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BOARD. I THINK WE CAN INTRODUCE RAUL. RAUL MORALES. YO UMAY -- YOU MAY NOT WANT TO SIT WITHOUR BACK TO FOLKS -- WITH YOUR BACK TO FOLKS, EITHER. KATHIE HAS LEARNED HOW TO GET THINGS GOING. OK. RAUL MORALES IS THE DEPUTY STATE DIRECTOR FOR RESOURCES --
>> SORRY TO THE FOLKS IN THE BACK. IT IS WEIRD HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. I WILL LOOK BOTH WAYS. MY NAME IS RAUL. I AM THE DEPUTY STATE DIRECTOR OUT OF THE NEVADA STATE OFFICE. I HAVE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. PRIOR TO COMING TO NEVADA, I WORKED WITH JOE AND ED. PRIOR TO THAT, MY WORK IN GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO, WHERE I GOT TO WORK WITH A WILD HORSE HERD. SINCE COMING TO NEVADA AND SEEING THE NUMBER OF FORCES HERE, IT IS A DIFFERENCE. -- OF HORSES HERE, IT IS A DIFFERENCE. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES THE JOB WOULD PRESENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS PROGRAM IS JUST ONE OF THEM, ALONG WITH SAGE GROUSE, DESERT TOURISTS, AND MANY OTHERS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE TRY TO RESOLVE ISSUES ON PUBLIC LAND. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR STATE DIRECTOR WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. SHE IS AT A MEETING IN LAS VEGAS. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO RENO, NEV.. FOR THE WORK YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON. WE'RE GLAD YOU HAD A GREAT FIELD TRIP THIS MORNING. I DID NOT KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, BUT THUNDERSTORMS WERE BEGINNING TO SHOW UP. WE HAVE HAS A GREAT WEATHER THE PAST FEW DAYS. ONE THING I RECOGNIZE IN PREPARING FOR MY REMARKS THIS MORNING -- I LOOK BACK AT MY CAREER, WHICH SPANS THE EARLY 1980'S. I REMEMBER GOING OUT ON PUBLIC LAND AND BEING ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE OUT ON PUBLIC LAND, BEING A NOBODY, HEARING NOTHING. I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DO DOCUMENTS ON A VARIETY OF USES OF PUBLIC LANDS AND NEVER HEAR A PEEP OUT OF ANYBODY. TODAY, IT HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED. TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, WHETHER IT IS GIS, GOOGLE, OR THE BLOG SITES WE HAVE, ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS PUBLIC LAND ACTIONS FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR COUCH. WE -- THAT THIS KIND OF THE WAY TECHNOLOGY IS. PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN COMMENT ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING. -- ON WHAT WE ARE DOING. I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN VOLUNTEERING TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. IT IS A VERY PASSIONATE PROGRAM. WE NEED YOUR HELP FOR BOTH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE BLM IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY IN MANAGING THIS WILD HORSE & BURRO PROGRAM. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO THE BLM. THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE ON WILD HORSE & BURROS BEING ON PUBLIC LAND. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE VALUABLE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WELCOME TO RENO, NEVADA. I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I AM BOTH ED AND JOE ROLLED INTO ONE. WE HAVE 10 HIGHLY MOTIVATED, VERY PROFESSIONAL, HARD-WORKING WILD HORSE & BURRO SPECIALISTS ACROSS THE STATE. OUR FOLKS WERE CARGILL AROUND -- OUR FOLKS WORK HARD YEAR ROUND. IN ORDER FOR US TO BEST MANAGE OUR WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACROSS NEVADA. NEVADA HAS ABOUT $8.5 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER 10% OF THE BUDGET. WE HAVE 83 HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 45% OF THE BUREAU'S AREA IN THE WESTERN STATES. STATEWIDE, OUR APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT LEVEL FOR HORSES AND BURROS IS 12,688 ANIMALS. PRIOR TO THIS SPRING, WE ESTIMATE WE HAD 22 -- THERE IS ABOUT 58 OF 83 MALES OVER AML. 70% OF THOSE ARE OVER THE HIGH END OF AML IN THE STATE. TO DATE, WE HAVE COMPLETED SIX GATHERS FOR HORSES AND BURROS. WE HAVE THREE MORE SCHEDULED FOR THIS SUMMER. AS MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE, NEV. AS WAS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE DROUGHT -- NEVADA AS WELL AS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE DROUGHT. WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ACTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE ON PUBLIC LAND THAT WILL AFFECT BOTH LIVESTOCK AND POTENTIALLY WILD HORSES AND BURROS. 52% OF OUR STATE IS CONSIDERED IN THE SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITION THAT THIS POINT. -- AT THIS POINT. CONTINUE TO LOOK OF ALL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US WHEN WE CONDUCT OUR GATHERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE LEGAL CHALLENGES. THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM HERE DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY AND THE LARGE SUITE OF TOOLS WE WILL NEED TO CONDUCT SUCCESSFUL GATHERS AND TO MANAGE A HERD APPROPRIATELY. THOSE WERE MY REMARKS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, RAUL. GIVEN THE SITUATION WE HAVE WITH DROUGHT THROUGHOUT THE WEST, SPECIFICALLY IN NEVADA, WHAT TYPES OF IMPACTS D.C. TO THE WILD -- IMPACTS DO YOU SEE TO THE WILD HORSES AND BURROS?
>> ONE OF OUR HERDS -- WE HAVE AREAS WHERE COURSES ARE STARTING TO SEE -=-- WHERE HORSE ARE STARTING TO GET DEPRIVED OF WATER. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THE VEGETATION IS IN TOUGH SHAPE. WE ARE DOING REGULAR MONITORING OF THE HEALTH OF THE RANGE AS WELL AS THE HORSE. WE ARE PRAYING FOR MOISTURE. WE'RE ON TOP OF IT AS FAR AS IDENTIFYING SOME HERDS IN SOME AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE IN THE EARLY -- ONES THAT NEED TO BE WATCHED. WE DID NOT WANT THOSE HORSES TO GET INTO TOUGH SHAPE. IF WE DO HAVE TO DO IS GATHER, THEY CAN AT LEAST WITHSTAND THE PRESSURES OF THE GATHER.
>> THAT IS THE SAME HERD THAT HAD AN EMERGENCY GATHERED TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO?
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> [NO AUDIO]
>> JACKSON MOUNTAIN? HEATHER, DO YOU KNOW? [NO AUDIO]
>> RAUL, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?
>> OUT OF ABOUT 600 TO 700 ANIMALS, MAYBE 200 ARE WHAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT. WITHOUT MORE MOISTURE, THE REST OF THE AREA COULD GET IN BAD SHAPE, TOO. WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR OR FIVE OTHER POTENTIAL HEARD AREAS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR RADAR SCREENS.
>> [NO AUDIO]
>> OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE IS NO WATER IN THE AREA THAT THE HORSES ARE STAYING AROUND, THAT IS A BIG THING. WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY BRINGING IN WATER, TRUCKING IN WATER TO THOSE AREAS. IF HORSES HAVE NO FEED --
>> [NO AUDIO]
>> RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT IS IN THE THREE'S TO FOUR'S AT THIS POINT. WE DO NOT WANTED TO GET MUCH WORSE. THEN THE ANIMALS WILL GET INTO A WEAKENED STATE. THOSE SPECIFICS WILL PICK UP AS WE -- AS LILI TALKS TO US ABOUT THE GATHERS.
>> WHAT IS THE -- ARE YOU INCREASE IN THE INTERVAL OF INSPECTION AS FAR AS MONITORING CONDITIONS OF THE HORSES? ARE YOU MAKING THE INTERVAL OF THE INSPECTION -- IS THAT GETTING SHORTER AS THE -- I WAS PART OF A REVIEW OF SOME HORSES IN UTAH. LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS. THEY WERE ONLY MONITORING EVERY TWO WEEKS. THEY CHANGED THAT TO GO OUT EVERY THREE OR FOUR DAYS AS THE WATER SUPPLY GOT LESS, SO THEY WOULD BE THERE A LITTLE SOONER AND COULD MAKE A DECISION QUICKER IF WATER DEPRIVATION BECAME AN ISSUE.
>> WE ARE OUT THERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IN JACKSON MOUNTAIN, IF NOT MORE OFTEN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST ACTION IS TO TAKE.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. OF THOSE HMA'S YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND MONITORING, ARE ANY OF THOSE ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR? OR WILL THEY OBVIOUSLY DID AS EMERGENCY GATHERS -- WILL THEY ALL BE SLATED AS EMERGENCY GATHERS?
>> JACKSON MOUNTAIN WAS SET FOR JULY. THE OTHERS WERE POTENTIALLY EMERGENCY. WE ARE SEEKING COMMENTS ON THE EA FOR THE GATHER. THAT JUST WENT OUT LAST WEEK, THURSDAY, APRIL 19. THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAUL. OK. AS EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD READ THE MINUTES -- HAS EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD READ THE MINUTES? DO WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? NO QUESTIONS? THOSE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED -- CERTIFIED AND ACCEPTED. OK. NEXT ON THE LIST WILL BE AN UPDATE, A PROGRAM OF DAY FROM OUR -- PROGRAM UPDATE FROM OUR LEAD, JOAN GUILFOYLE.
>> IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH? ALL RIGHT. THANKS, BOYD. I WILL PUT THIS NEWS RELEASE ON THE BACK TABLE. IT'S THE ONLY COPY I THINK WE HAVE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. I WILL REPEAT WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID. WELCOME, CALLIE, JUNE, AND BOYD. THANK YOU, ROBIN AND GARY. THANKYOU, BOYD -- THANK YOU, BOYD, FOR OFFERING TO BE THE INTERIM CHAIR DURING THIS MEETING. WE APPRECIATE THAT. ONCE ROBIN'S TERM WAS UP AND SHE HAD BEEN CHAIR FOR SO LONG, WE REALIZE WE HAD NOT HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ELECT A NEW CHAIR FOR 13 OR 14 YEARS. WE WILL ADDRESS THAT TOMORROW ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH ME IN THE STATE FOR HELPING PUT THIS MEETING TOGETHER. AND THESE GREAT BOOKS. GOOD JOB. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AND HAVE THE STAFF SHARE FROM SOME OF THEM WILL BE COMING UP AS WELL. AMONG THEM ARE FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS -- FOLLOW-UP ITEMS TO OUR LAST MEETING. SOME ARE CHANGES WITHIN THE PROGRAM, EITHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. THERE ARE SOME SUCCESSES THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I FEEL WE HAVE HAD, AND ALSO SOME CHALLENGES. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SECOND TAB IN YOUR BOOKS. THIS WILL GO TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MADE TO US AT THE OCTOBER MEETING. THIS DOCUMENT IS POSTED ON THE WEB. IT IS A WORD DOCUMENT. IT WOULD NOT HAVE DONE VERY WELL BEING PROJECTED. IT IS IN THE BOOK AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. WE DID BRING A SPARE BUT FOR FOLKS WHO DID NOT PRINT EVERYTHING OUT. WE ARE TRYING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW MUCH WE ARE PRINTING. SO, THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MADE TO US. WHAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO FIRST, OF THE FIRST FIVE ON THIS LIST, WHICH ARE ALL ABOUT EITHER BLM WORKING GROUPS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE SOME OF YOU ASSIST US WITH OR AN ADVISORY BOARD WORKING GROUP THAT YOU HAVE FORMED. THOSE ARE THE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF DEFINITIONS FOR YOU ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS. FOR THAT, I'M GOING TO THROW YOU TO TAB 3. GO BACK TO THE THIRD YELLOW PIECE OF PAPER, WHERE YOU WILL FIND A DOCUMENT THAT IS CALLED THE GUIDELINES REGARDING WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS' PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL MEETINGS. TAB 3, YELLOW. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF YELLOW INSERTS. THIS IS BEHIND THE THIRD YELLOW INSERT. I WANT TO WALK YOU THRU THE TWO KINDS OF GROUPS AND THEN GO BACK TO WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCEPTED FOR THOSE. IS EVERYBODY WITH ME? OK. SO, THE FIRST KIND OF GROUP THAT IS LISTED HERE -- AND WE WENT TO PROPER REGULATIONS TO GET THIS CLARIFIED -- IS AN ADVISORY BOARD FORMED A WORKING GROUP. THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE FORMED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD. THE MEMBERSHIP IS COMPRISED COMPLETELY AND ONLY OF BOARD MEMBERS, ACTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. THE BLM WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION TO U.S. YOUR REQUEST ON WHENEVER THE TOPIC IS THAT WORKING GROUP IS GOING TO WORK ON. THE BLM DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IT IS STRICTLY A BOARD FORMED A GROUP -- A BOARD-FORMED GROUP. WHEN THAT 4-4 WORKING GROUP IS DONE DISCUSSING THE ISSUE, WHAT EVER IT IS, THE REPORT THOSE RESULTS BACK TO THE BOARD. THE BOARD CAN DECIDE AS A WHOLE IF YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND SOMETHING TO US. THAT IS ONE KIND OF WORKING GROUP. AS YOU CAN TALK THE BOTTOM OF THIS -- YOU WARMED. YOU RECOMMENDED TWO DIFFERENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR GROUPS. ONE TO EVALUATE PROTOCOL FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUNTEERS. THIS IS RIGHT ABOVE THE #TWO. AND A WORKER TO EXPAND THE TOOLBOX FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION AND ALL ALTERNATIVE MODES OF GROWTH FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION. WITHOUT JUMPING AROUND TO MUCH, WE HAVE ACCEPTED BOTH OF THOSE. WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE MEMBERSHIPS THAT HE RECOMMENDED, ABSENT IF SOMEONE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS WERE ACCEPTED. THE SECOND AND A GROUP HERE IS THE BLM FORMED GROUP -- FOR M. M -- BLM-FORMED WORKING GROUP. THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE FORMED BY US AT THE BLM. WE REQUEST EXTERNAL EXPERTS TO SERVE ON THOSE GROUPS TO HELP US. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS WHICH OF YOU WILL BE ON THAT. THE EXTERNAL EXPERTS -- AND THIS IS IMPORTANT -- YOU CAN MEET WITH THE BLM, FOR GROUPS TO PRESENT YOUR INDEPENDENT VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICIPATE AS INDIVIDUALS, AND CONTRIBUTE INDEPENDENT OPINIONS ON THE ISSUES AND MATERIALS OF THE QUESTIONS OF THE BLM FOR GROUP -- FORM GROUP. WE DO NOT COLLABORATE WITH THE BLM. YOU WILL SERVE AS INDIVIDUALS, GIVING YOUR EXPORTED RICE TO US. YOU DO NOT HELP US DECIDE WHAT TO DO WHEN THE ISSUES.
>> AT THE OCTOBER MEETING, THERE ARE THREE SETS OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS THAT YOU RECOMMENDED. AGAIN, WE HAVE ACCEPTED ALL OF THEM. LET ME FINISH A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT GROUP. THE BLM GROUP, WE FORMER OUR FINDINGS AND WE REPORT THEM TO YOU, THE BOARD. IT DOES MAKE SENSE. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT LYNN NEARLY -- LINEAR LY. WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE THREE PEOPLE TO BE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM. ONE PERSON TO BE ON THE BLM RESEARCH COMMITTEE. AND ONE PERSON TO WORK WITH US ON OUR PROGRAM STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION. YOU CAN SEE THOSE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS PAGE. THAT IS WHAT YOU-4 IS THE OCTOBER -- THAT IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOR IN OCTOBER. THAT IS WHAT WE AGREE WITH. WE MET IN OCTOBER. IT IS APRIL. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. WE DID NOT OFFICIALLY APPROVE THIS. THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE NUANCES, THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING. WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE MEETING, WE WILL GIVE YOU OUR ANSWERS. IT ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT WITHIN A MONTH. SO THAT NO GROUP IS LEFT HANGING, WANTING TO HELP, CANNOT HELP, BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFICIAL. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE DECIDED TO SHIFT IS THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. USUALLY, WE TAKE THEM -- THE DRAFT GET OUT, BUT YOU DO NOT REALLY SEE THE DRAFT UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS KIND OF A LONG TIME TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS SAID. WE ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING THE DRAFT MINUTES OUT TO YOU FOR REVIEWING. WE STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THEM OFFICIALLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, LIKE WE JUST DID, BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND GET THAT BUSINESS TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU GO BACK TO HAVE TO, I WILL RUN THROUGH WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE -- BACK TO TAB 2, I WILL RUN THROUGH WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. THE FIRST ONE IS DR, BRAY,. 00 THE FIRST ONE IS DR. BRAY -- THE FIRST ONE IS DR. BRAY. THE SECOND ONE WAS NOT ACCEPTED. SHE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. NO. 3 WAS DR. BRAY AND TIM HARVEY. THAT WAS ACCEPTED. ROBBIN -- ROBIN WAS ON THE LIST, BUT SHE CAN NO LONGER SERVE BECAUSE SHE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. DR. BRAY AND DR. SPRATLING AS MEMBERS OF AN ADVISORY-FORMED GROUP FOR THE EXPANDING THE TOOLBOX FOR POPULATION GROWTH DETECTION -- DEPRESSION . WE HAD LAST BEEN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP -- WE HAVE ASKED BEEN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP. -- ASKED DEAN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP. THE FIFTH GROUP, TO EVALUATE PROTOCOL FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUNTEERS, THE PROPOSED PEOPLE MERE JULIE GLEASON, TIM HARVEY, AND PAUL DURBIN. CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?
>> THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE SPOTS WHERE WE NEED A PRE PLACEHOLDER -- NEED A PLACE HOLDER TOMORROW. PERHAPS WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WORKING GROUPS.
>> OK. I WILL MAKE NOTE NOW THAT I WILL HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU WITH SOME EXTERNAL EXPERTS A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE MEETING, FOR ANOTHER BLM-FORMED GROUP.
>> BARRING THOSE TOP FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH SIX THROUGH NINE OR IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ THEM. BASICALLY, THEY HAVE ALL , FOR THE MOST PART, BEEN EXPECTED. WOULD YOU LET ME TO READ THROUGH THEM? NO. 6 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED PROMOTING THE ACCELERATION OF THE USE OF SPACE BACKS. THAT WAS EXPECTED. WE ARE DOING THAT AGGRESSIVELY -- THAT WAS ACCEPTED. WE'RE DOING THAT AGGRESSIVELY. THERE IS SOME INFORMATION FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES. NO. 7 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED WE POST THE ONGOING STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY. WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION AND ONGOING STATUS REPORTS WILL BE PERIODICALLY POSTED ON THE WEB SITE. IF THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE. NO. 8 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED -- THE LANGUAGE WITH REGARD TO WHICH ANIMALS ARE SOLD, THEIR CARE, THEIR SUSTENANCE -- LOCAL AND MOMENT CONTROL IS ALREADY CONTACTED. THE BLM EXCEPT THE FIRST PART. YOU CAN READ HERE THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED. I THINK SUNNI WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HER UPDATE ABOUT ADOPTIONS AND SALES. -- I THINK SALLY WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HER UPDATE ABOUT ADOPTIONS AND SALES. WE DID NOT ACCEPT THE SECOND RAPINE NATION -- THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION ABOUT LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL. WE DO NOT FEEL WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON THAT ADDITIONAL WORK LOAD. WE WOULD SAY THAT THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERESTED NONPROFIT TO LOOK INTO THEMSELVES. IT COULD BE A VALUABLE SERVICE. IT IS JUST NOT SENDING THE BLM HAS CAPACITY TO DO. -- NOT SOMETHING THE BLM HAS CAPACITY TO DO. WE ACCEPTED NO. 9. LETTERS WERE SENT OUT IN JANUARY. I'M NOT SURE. IT IS DONE. THAT IS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? OK. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED POINT OUT TO YOU THAT I WANT TO CREDIT RAMONA FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ON. YOU'LL NOTICE A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS. YOUR CURRENT CONTACT LIST IS THERE. YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF EACH OTHER. WE WILL START ADDING NEWS RELEASES. THE NEWS RELEASES THAT CAME OUT FROM THE LAST MEETING TO THIS ONE WILL START BEING ADDED IN. YOU MIGHT BE AWARE OF THEM. IN CASE YOU ARE NOT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE. THE FACT SHEETS -- WE WILL START PUTTING THOSE IN YOUR BOOK. THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO DO SOME MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE BOARD. YOU'LL SEE A SHIFT FOR THAT KIND OF THING. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE IN THE BOOK, PLEASE LET US KNOW. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THINGS IN GENERAL. AS HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR, THIS IS A BIG TIME OF TRANSITION FOR THE BOARD. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A NEW CHAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK UP OUT TO A POINT THE CHAIR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR SO LONG. -- HOW TO APPOINT A CHAIR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR SO LONG. AS YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, THREE MEMBERS -- NEW MEMBERS COME IN. THIS YEAR WE HAVE, AS OF MARCH, JUNE, COWLEYALLIE, AND BOYD. NEXT YEAR, THE WILD BUT POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY PAUL, THE HUMANE ADVOCATE POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY TIM, AND THE LIVESTOCK POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY GARY -- THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WILL BE UP IN MARCH OF 2013. THE REGISTER NOTICE WILL BE CAUGHT IN JUNE -- THE REGISTER NOTICE WILL GO OUT IN JUNE. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE BOARD. I AM REALLY PLEASED TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND TO HAVE YOU ON HERE. I THINK YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC REALM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE LOOK TO YOU TO HELP RESOLVE, CONSULT WITH EACH OTHER RESPECTFULLY, AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THINGS. COME UP WITH NEW PATHWAYS FORWARD. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GOOD BLEND OF PERSPECTIVES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. I THINK, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOUR JOB IS TO HELP US NAVIGATE AND FIND OUR WAY TOWARD COMMON GROUND AMONG DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS AND HELP RESOLVE THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT ISSUE. IT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER- ONE LAND MANAGEMENT, A HUMAN- DIMENSION ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON AND FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME. IT IS NOT EASY. I AM SURE YOU CAN SAY THAT MORE IN SPADES AND I CAN. INTERNALLY, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM. WE ARE DOING SOME TEMPORARY SHIFTS, GIVING PEOPLE DIFFERENT JOBS AND GETTING PEOPLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. ZACK IS OUT DOING A DETAIL. WE HAVE SOMEONE COMING IN FROM FOREST SERVICE TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK TO HELP US OUT. WE HAVE AN OUTREACH POSITION THAT WE JUST GOT APPLICANTS FOR, TO DO WILD HORSE & BURRO COMMUNICATION ON A HOLISTIC BASIS. I WILL FILL THAT THE TELL PRETTY SOON. ONCE THAT FOUR MONTHS IS UP, WE WILL LOOK AT MAKING THAT POSITION PERMANENT. WE WANT TO CONCLUDE WHAT THE JOB SHOULD BE BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE POSITION WILL SAY. WE HAVE A VACANCY FOR THE RESEARCH TEAM LEAD AND A POPULATION CENSUS COORDINATOR LEAD. I WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT IS. I DO NOT ACTUALLY KNOW.
>> WHERE IS THE VACANCY PROCESS WITH THAT? WE HAVE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE ARE REFUTED THEM --
>> WE HAVE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE ARE REVIEWING THEM. WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOMEONE IN ON AN INTERIM BASIS TO HELP, AS THEIR PROGRAM GETS MORE SOLID AND CLEAR, DO WE NEED A FULL- TIME COORDINATOR, IT IS A PART- TIME POSITION. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS. POTENTIALLY WORKING WITH A DOCTORATE UC-DAVIS TO DEVELOP THESE ASSESSMENT TOOL SO WE WILL BE USING. WE ALSO, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, LIKE EVERY OTHER PROGRAM THE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS, HAVING TO DO MORE WITH LESS. WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR POSITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HALFTIME, THREE QUARTER TIME SHARE, ON OTHER PEOPLE. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT BEING SHIFTED TO A FULL-TIME POSITION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LOOKING AT IF WE SHOULD REORGANIZE OUR STAFF. KATHYIE HAS BEEN HELPING US LOOK AT THAT. THAT IS PART OF HER EXPERTISE. I THING THAT IS IMPORTANT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ED MENTIONED THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER TO SAUDI -- SALLY AND JOHN A. MORE EXCLAMATION -- A MORE FULL EXPLANATION.
>> IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. WE HAD ON THIS MORNING. THE DIRECTOR'S CHALLENGE -- THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEVELOP CITIZENS AND CLIENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE BLM AND STAKEHOLDER KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCE CONDITIONS ON PUBLIC LAND. ROBERT -- PROJECTS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT FUNDING OF UP TO 20 PART THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR FIELD OFFICES. IF SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION -- UP TO $25,000 OR FIELD OFFICES, IF SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THERE WERE 12 PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. ONE PROPOSAL FROM CALIFORNIA, FOUR PROPOSALS FROM COLORADO, AND SEVEN PROPOSALS FROM NEVADA. 18 OF BLM STAFF -- A TEAM OF BLM STAFF AND EXPERTS PROPOSED BID -- REVIEW THE PROPOSALS. IT INCLUDED INSTALLING INTERBEDDED KIOSKS -- INTERPRETED KIOSKS TO NOT FEED THE BOROUGH'S -- BURROS. ALL OF THE PROPOSALS WERE FUNDED. IT WAS A TOTAL OF $272,000. IT WAS GREAT. EVERY PROPOSAL WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDED. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. DID I MISS ANYTHING? OK. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO JOHN WILSON. HE IS FROM THE BLM. HE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HIS DIRECTOR'S CHALLENGE PROJECT.
>> HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING THIS AFTERNOON. I HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT WE WILL GET GOING. CAN YOU SEE THE SCREEN AT ALL?
>> YES.
>> I WILL PRESENT -- I WILL PRESENT THE OVERVIEW OF THIS ABETTED PROPOSAL -- OF THIS AMENDED PROPOSAL. I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW FOR THE NEED OF THE PROPOSAL. I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL PROJECT THAT THIS IS A SUBSET OF. I WILL PRESENT THE DETAILS OF THE SUBMITTED DIRECTOR POSTULANT PROPOSAL. YOU CAN -- DIRECTOR'S PROPOSAL. YOU CAN SKIP THIS SLIDE. YOU CAN GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE. I JUST DID THAT REALLY QUICK. SORRY. I DID NOT KNOW I WOULD NOT HAVE CONTROL. GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT. THE NAME OF THE PROJECT IS -- . NEXT. IS APPROXIMATELY 105 ACRE EXPOSURE FUNDS. -- DEFENSE -- IT IS APPROXIMATELY 105 ACRES OF EXPOSED FENCE. CAN YOU BRING UP THE EIGHT CHAIRMEN MAP-- BRING UP THE HMA MAP? THERE ARE 32,000 ACRES OF DIRECT TREATMENT. THE BRIGHT GREEN IS THE BOULTON CANYON EXPOSURE -- DALTON CANYON EXPOSURE FENCE. YOU CAN SEE THE TREE ENCROACHMENT, THE PINON JUNIPER TREES. THEN THERE IS A WET MEADOW. THERE IS A PERENNIAL STREAMS THAT FEED THE BOTTOM THAT FLOWS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP. THERE ARE SEVERAL SPRINGS. NEXT. IF YOU CLICK BACK , IT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE TEXT. OK. I WILL JUST TALK THIS THROUGH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VEGETATION MONITORING TRANSAXLE AND GRAEME MONITORING -- TRANSACTS ECTS AND GROUND MONITORING. WE USED TO HAVE SOME SAGE GROUSE HERE. THE VEGETATION IS VERY DEGRADED. WE'RE GOING TO EXCLUDE FLOOD STOCK FOR THREE YEARS. -- EXCLUDE LIVESTOCK FOR THREE YEARS. WE WOULD USE SOME BRUSH TO PROTECT THE WATER SOURCES. THEY WILL TAKE FIVE TO 10 YEARS TO GET COVERED. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE DOWN THE FENCE. TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF FURTHER DEGRADATION, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAUSES. THIS LEADS TO VEGETATION CHANGES. THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO THIS DEGRADATION. THE PINON JUNIPER -- PINYON/JUNIPER IS ENCROACHING . THERE ARE LIVESTOCK BREEDING IMPACTS. -- THE WILD HORSE IS ABOUT 39% OVER AML IN THISM HMA -- IN THIS HMA. HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES HAVE LED TO VEGETATION CHANGES. THERE IS RABBITBRUSH THAT HAS INVADED THE MEADOW. CLICK ON RABBITBRUSH. THIS IS MONOTYPIC STANDS OF RABBITBRUSH. IT SHOULD BE ALL GRASS. THE THREE AND A HALF MILE COMPLEX HAS A LOT OF THIS GOING ON. THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS CHANGING FROM A WET MEADOW TO A DRY MEADOW. EVENTUALLY, RABBITBRUSH AND SAGEBRUSH WILL MEAN INCOME -- WILL MEAN THE METAL WAS COMPLETELY GONE OVER TIME. -- THE MEADOW IS COMPLETELY GONE OVER TIME. THE WET MEADOW -- CLICK ON DRY PLEASE. SO, THE GREENER PHOTOS WERE TAKING IN AUGUST, JUST AFTER THE COWS WERE PUSHED BEYOND. THE SLIDE UP TO THE TOP LEFT WAS TAKEN IN OCTOBER. THERE IS BEEN NO GROWTH RECOVERY OF THE SHRUBS ARE ENCROACHING. YOU HAVE A LOT OF -- IT IS IN BAD SHAPE. SO, THE LARGER PROJECT THAT WAS JUST ENDED APRIL 4, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 4000 COMMONS. THE LARGER PROJECT INCLUDES WILD HORSE REMOVAL. WE HAVE PROPOSED DEBATE AND WATER TRAPPING AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE PERMIT T -- BERMITTEE -- WE HAVE PROPOSED A BAIT AND WATER TRAPPING AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE PERMITTEE. WE WILL CONDUCT A TOUR FOR COMMENT TERSE -- COMMENTERS IN MAY. THE COMMENTS ARE AGAINST HORSE REMOVAL, AGAINST BAIT AND WATER TRAPPING BY THE PERMITTEE. I DEVELOPED THIS WITHIN THE ESTABLISH AML AND THE -- ESTABLISHED AML AND ESTABLISHED GRAZING PERMIT, WHICH WILL BE UP IN THE A COUPLE OF YEARS. -- UP IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAVE CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE DIRECTOR'S CHALLENGE PROPOSAL. SO FAR, A LOT OF THEM ARE TIED INTO THE LARGER PROJECT. THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE HAS EXPERTISE IN BUILDING FENCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE PARTNERS FOR CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT IS A FAIRLY NEW ORGANIZATION. THEY HAVE ESTABLISH AN AND CONDUCTED -- ESTABLISH BANK THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED AND CONDUCTED BASELINE TRANSECTS. WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS BEING ACHIEVED. THERE'S ALSO THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE. THEY HAVE HELPED WITH DALTON CANYON. WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPINION/JUNIPER -- PIN YON/JUINPER AND -- PINYON/JUNIPER AND WHAT IS NOT? WE'LL INCREASE THE SAGE GROUSE MONITORING TO SEE THE RESPONSE TO TREATMENTS. THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE OVERALL PROJECT AS WELL OVER TIME. GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE NEXT ONE. ARS ARE HELPING WITH GROUND WATER MONITORING WELLS. THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IS TO GATHER BASELINE DATA. THAT WILL HELP ASSESS WHAT THE DATA MEANS OVER TIME. SMITH CREEK RANCH -- IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING, THEY CAN HELP WITH THINGS, ADMINISTRATING VOLUNTEERS TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE WILD HORSE ADVOCACY GROUPS. WE WOULD NOT -- WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT. PART OF THIS WILL BE A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. NEXT, PLEASE. SO, THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN WILL BE FOR PROMOTING WEEKEND EVENTS TO CONSTRUCT INCLOSURE AND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADDITIONAL PARTNERS BY UTILIZING THE FOLLOWING. WE'LL USE MEDIA RELEASES, SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES INVITING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOGO CONTEST THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED AND THE WINNING LOGO WILL BE DISPLAYED ON VOLUNTEER SHIRTS. AND IMITATIONS TO VOLUNTEERS WILL BE THOSE TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN THOSE PROGRAMS. OFFICIAL AID HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HELPING OUT WITH WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. THE RECRUITMENT WILL BE ADVERTISED ON VOLUNTEER DOCTOR OF -- VOLUNTEER.GOV. ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
>> WHAT KIND OF FENCE DO YOU ANTICIPATE USING?
>> IT IS A STANDARD FOR DOC TO- WIRE, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY -- STANDARD FOUR-WIRE, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY. IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE REINFORCED CORNERS. FENCING IS NOT MY FORTE. ONCE WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF MATERIALS WE MIGHT NEED. PIPER WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD -- PIPELINE WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD BEOUT -- BE OUT OF TOUCH. THE LARGER PROJECT, ABOUT HALF OF THOUSE ACRES ARE TOO ENHANCED FOR LALE TROUSE -- FOR SAGE GROUSE. THEY CAN JUMP OVER, THE DEER.
>> YOU SAID IT IS FOR MOSS TO 5 MILES LONG -- 4 MILES TO 5 MILES LONG. HOW LONG IS IT?
>> YOU HAVE TO GO OUT A LITTLE FARTHER. WHEN SAGE GROUSE FLY INTO AN AREA, YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TO CRASH INTO THE FENCE. IF THEY GET CRUSHED BY PREDATORS, THEY LIKE THE EDGES OF THE MEADOWS, WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF COVER. WE HAVE SOME CULTURAL CONCERNS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WICKED OF THE FENCE WOULD PROBABLY BE HALF A MILE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR LESS.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY AREAS YOU'RE LYING TO PIPE WATER ACCESS OUT? -- YOU ARE GOING TO PIPE WATER ACCESS OUT? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THREE TROUGHS FOR ACCESS IN ONE AREA OR SPREAD THEM OUT?
>> WE WILL LOOK AT THAT. THERE IS A PERENNIAL CREEK. IT IS THE UPSTREAM SIDE. THERE IS PLENTY OF WATER RUNNING IN. BECAUSE OF THE DEGRADATION, THERE IS DOWN CUTTING. THERE IS MORE WATER RUNNING OF THE WAY THROUGH. IT RUNS THROUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE AND DOWN INTO A RESERVOIR. I WILL CONTINUE TO CONSULT PEOPLE THAT NO MORE THAN NINE AND SEE IF WE NEED -- WE PROPOSED TO PUT IN A COUPLE OF DROPS AND PIPELINE OUTSIDE IF NEEDED FOR THE HORSES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU A VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON APPLYING AND GETTING THE MONEY. ED ALREADY MENTIONED A LONG-TERM HOLDING TOUR ON JUNE 9. I WILL MENTION THAT I UNDERSTAND WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR BUSLOADS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING. IF YOU WANT TO COME, YOU BETTER GET YOUR NAME IN SOON. THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IS THE SUCCESS -- I HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH IT. U.S. UNDER WAY BY THE TIME I GOT HERE. BUT IT IS NOT TOTALLY DONE. IT IS DONE ENOUGH TO SHOW YOU TONIGHT. WHEN THIS MEETING IS OVER AT 5:30, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU MOST OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE WILD HORSE & BURRO PROGRAM THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE BLM. ISOTOPE -- I HOPE YOU'LL STAY FOR THAT. IT IS PRETTY EXCITING. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WE ARE WORKING ON -- WE'RE WORKING ON A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE -- HAVING A GOOD CONSULTATION WITH THEM ABOUT MANY THINGS. THE SAME FOR THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. THEIR AGREEMENT WITH US RUNS OUT THIS YEAR. IT WILL BE A COMPETED PROCESS. WE ARE HOPEFUL TO CONTINUE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT -- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT. YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS TOMORROW AS WELL, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT NEW AGREEMENTS AND PROCESSES FOR THE TWO KINDS OF ECO SANCTUARIES THAT WERE ANNOUNCED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE PRIVATE-PUBLIC ECO SANCTUARY IN NEVADA, WHICH JUST GOT STARTED LAST WEEK IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE TWO PROCESSES HAPPENING AND WHAT MAY COME FROM THOSE. ON THE REPORT TO CONGRESS, I KNOW THERE WAS INTEREST IN KNOWING WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT. IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. I CAN COVER IT. YOU WERE BRIEFED ON THIS AT THE LAST MEETING VERY THOROUGHLY. THIS IS, BY THE WAY, WHAT I HAVE REALIZED SINCE THAT MEETING IS THAT IT IS REALLY TWO REPORTS IN ONE. IT IS FROM FIVE YEARS AND A PROGRAM STRATEGY FOR 2012 TO 2014. IT HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF STEPS. THE NEXT COUPLE GO BACK TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY, AND WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR WANTS TO SEE IT OR NOT, WE DO NOT KNOW, BUT THEN IT WILL BE READY TO BE PUBLISHED AND GIVEN TO CONGRESS. WE ARE VERY EXCITED. I WILL REMIND YOU OF THE SEVEN MAJOR COMPONENTS, MANY OF WHICH YOU WILL BE BRIEFED ON. WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR TO BE PUT IN PRINT. WE ARE DOING MANY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM STRATEGY. THE FIRST ONE WAS SUSTAINABLE HERDS. WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING THE USE OF FERTILITY CONTROL ALONG WITH REMOVAL TO ATTEMPT TO GET TO AML BECOME ESPECIALLY ON THE LONG TERM. INCREASING SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. THE EGO SANCTUARY CONCEPT, THE INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM -- THE EAST COAST AND NEW THE ECO SANCTUARY CONCEPT, THE INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM. ECOTOURISM. IT IS THE ONE THAT I THINK NEEDS SOME THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP COMMUNITIES LOOK AT DEVELOPING IT FOR THEMSELVES, HOW THAT COULD WORK. I HAVE GOTTEN SOME IDEAS FROM PROPOSALS OF VARIOUS PEOPLE. THAT MIGHT BE A PLACE WHERE WE COULD USE YOUR EXPERTISE, PARTICULARLY, IS CAPITALIZING AND MOVING ON THAT. THE OTHER PIECE, WHICH MAY SOUND MINOR TO YOU OR BUREAUCRATIC, BUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, IS THAT WE ARE NOW MEETING EVERY MONTH WITH THE DIRECTOR. IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO KEEP HIM APPRISED OF EVERYTHING. IT IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GOOD SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR AND GET HIS THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK AND APPROVALS, ETC.. WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING INTERNALLY. AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE ESTABLISH WHAT I AM CALLING REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TEAMS. THESE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, AGENCY PEOPLE, BLM, FOREST SERVICE, FISH AND WILDLIFE, WHO ARE LOOKING AT KIND OF COMPLICATED ISSUES. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THE ISSUE AND THEN PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN A 90-DAY OR 120-DAY. . THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I WANT TO MENTION. -- 120-DAY PERIOD . THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I WANT TO MENTION. WHEN IT THAN THAT LOOKS AT CONTRACTS -- ONE OF THEM LOOKS AT CONTRACTS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE COME TO ME, BUT THEY ARE NOT THROUGH THE INTERNAL REVIEW YET. THAT TEAM HAS BEEN MEETING AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. THE ALTERNATIVE GATHERS METHOD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TEAM IS THE NEXT ONE. WHAT OTHER WAYS ARE THERE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT GATHERING ANIMALS? WE HAVE THE BAIT TRAPPING NATIONAL SOLICITATION. THAT IS MARVELOUS. ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT? THAT IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE. SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT GO INTO THESE TEAMS ARE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US OR THAT THE PUBLIC HAS GIVEN US. I WANT SOME GROUPS TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS COMPREHENSIVELY. THE NEXT THING IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM. ADOPTIONS AND SALES, I MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE WHILE AGO. SALLY WILL HEAD UP WAS SOME OTHER FOLKS. IS OUR ADOPTION SYSTEM MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY? IS IT SUFFICIENT TO HELP INCREASE NUMBERS? WHAT ELSE CAN WE BE DOING? THE LAST ONE IS IN THE GERMINATING STAGES. IT IS CALLED TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE RETENTION. WHAT KIND OF FORMAL TRAINING TO WE HAVE IN PLACE? WE DO HAVE SOME WITHIN OUR TRAINING SYSTEM. WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAIN DO WE WANT. WHAT CURRICULUM DO WE NEED TO UPDATE. AS YOU KNOW, IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BABY BOOMERS. A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO WALK OUT THE DOOR WHEN THAT HAPPENS. WE WANT TO KEEP THAT KNOWLEDGE. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UP OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS IS NOT JUST GONE WHEN THESE FOLKS RETIRE? WE'RE DOING TWO TEAM LEADERS. WE STARTED OUT WITH ONE AND REALIZE IT IS A HECK OF A LOAD FOR ONE PERSON -- REALIZED IT IS A HECK OF A LOAD FOR ONE PERSON TO TRY TO MANAGE. KIND OF LIKE THE BOARD IS A REFLECTION OF THE DIVERSE OPINIONS OUT THERE, WE ARE TRYING TO LOAD THESE TEAMS WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS FROM ALL ANGLES. IT IS NOT JUST SPECIALISTS . I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON THE NEXT PIECE. JULY 1 IS WHEN THE NEXT HELICOPTER GATHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN IN JACKSON MOUNTAIN, NEVADA. WE HAVE COMMITTED -- EVERY YEAR, WE WANT TO LOOK AT OUR GUIDANCE, SOME OF WHICH EXPIRES AUTOMATICALLY IN THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE POLICY SYSTEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE FOR WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER -- ALREADY ARE -- GUIDANCE AND ALL THE ASPECTS ON HOW WE CONDUCT OPERATIONS FOREGATHERS -- FOR GATHERS. IT IS THIS CONCEPT THAT I AM SEEKING, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, A COUPLE OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS FROM THE BOARD, TO LOOK AT THE GUIDANCE AT SOME STAGE AND GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS. WE WANT YOUR OPINION. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT BEFORE IT GOES IN THE FINAL. THAT WILL BE THE FAST TRACK. THERE WILL BE A PROCURACY THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I HAVE TO GO UP THE CHAIN -- THERE IS A BUREAUCRACY THAT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH. I HAVE TO GO UP THE CHAIN. IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HELPING TO INPUT INTO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO CAN HELP US WITH THAT. FINALLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IN TERMS OF SUCCESSES, I AM MEETING WITH LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO CHAT WITH ME. I WILL SPEAK AT A SYMPOSIUM IN AUGUST AT THE REQUEST OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. I WILL GO ON TO -- I AM GOING TO MORE GATHERS AND ADOPTIONS. I PLAN TO VISIT THE SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION CENTER IN MONTANA TO LEARN WHAT THAT IS ABOUT AND TO MEET THE DOCTOR IN PERSON. WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A COUPLE OF WEBINARS SETUP IN CONTENT -- IN COOPERATION WITH THEM. A LOT OF BLM FOLKS HAVE BEEN ON THOSE WEBINARS. THE RESEARCH TEAM IS LOOKING AT UPDATING THEIR CHARTER TO INCLUDE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE ADVISORY GROUP. FOREST SERVICES IS THE ONLY OTHER AGENCY INVOLVED IN THE ACT. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE WILD HORSES ON SOME OF THEIR LAND AND THEY MAY BE LEARNING THINGS, DOING THINGS, DOING RESEARCH THAT CAN HELP US. WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT EXPERTISE. GENERALLY, I AM GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM ALL SIDES OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE IDEAS -- THE AREAS WE AGREE UPON AND THE AREAS WHERE WE DO NOT. IF YOU CANNOT AGREE ON THAT, HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD? I WANT TO NOW GO INTO SOME CHALLENGES THAT I SEE FOR US. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THEM FROM THE ACTUAL PRESENTATIONS. ONE THING I AM PROBABLY FEELING IS THAT WE GET IN THE NUMBER FOR THE POPULATION ESTIMATES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28, 2012. THAT IS THE FINAL DATE THAT WE SAY ALL OF THE DATA IS IN AND THAT IS THE NUMBER WE USE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE NUMBER IS APPROXIMATELY 37,000, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN THE NUMBER FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS 38,500. I SAY THE WORD APPROXIMATELY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE USING THIS NEW CENSUS METHOD AS RECOMMENDED TO US BY USGS THAT WE THINK AS MORE RELIABILITY, AS SOMEONE POINTED OUT, YOU CAN ONLY COUNT WHAT YOU CAN FIND. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT CONFINED THEM ALL. -- NOT GOING TO FIND THEM ALL. IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT IT IS DOWN BUT BAD NEWS THAT WE ARE OVER THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE LAND. WE HAVE ASKED THE FIELD IF THEY CAN LOOK AT CURRENT CONDITIONS AND THE DECISIONS -- AND IF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE ARE STILL THE RIGHT DECISIONS. SOME ARE VASTLY OVER AML. THERE IS STILL THE NEED TO REMOVE THEM TO PROTECT THE RANGE. THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE A BIG CONCERN. ADOPTIONS ARE STILL DOWN. LONG-TERM HOLDING SPACE, WE ARE HAVING A CHALLENGE GETTING ENOUGH OF IT. IF IT RUNS OUT, IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. WHERE DO YOU PUT THESE ANIMALS? AND THE SHORT-TERM HOLDING SPACE IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE GAS AND HAY IS RISING. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE COSTS RISE MORE ON THIS BUDGET. WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. THAT IS WHERE THIS ECO TOURISM IDEA, WE WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, I WILL SAY THAT I REALLY THINK A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT FINDING COMMON GROUND WITH PEOPLE YOU DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE IT WITH. THERE ARE MANY GROUPS THAT WILL NEVER AGREE THAT WE SHOULD GATHER AND OTHER GROUPS THAT WE -- THAT THINK WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO THAT. THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT LOVE THE IDEA OF AN EGO SANCTUARY AND SOME GROUPS DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SOME GROUPS THINK THAT THE FULL RANGE OF WHAT THE ACT ALLOWS, WE SHOULD DO. SOME GROUPS OPPOSE THAT. SOME GROUPS THINKS THAT WILD HORSES AND BURROS OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY TOOLS OF OURS, VIEWING THEM AS OPPRESSION OR MANAGEMENT. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN HAVE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY IF YOU WERE TO ALLOW THAT. THAT IS WHAT THE ACT CALLS FOR, TO MANAGE THESE ANIMALS TO SUSTAIN THAT HE DID -- THAT ECONOMICAL -- THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THIS LAND. I APPRECIATE PEOPLE WALKING TO WORK WITH US AS PARTNERS AND COMING FORWARD WITH THAT TYPE OF HONEST ATTITUDE. WE REALLY DO WANT TO HELP WILD HORSES AND BURROS. NO MATTER WHAT FOLKS MIGHT SAY ABOUT US, THE TRUTH IS THAT BLM FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO FIND THE PATHWAY TO WORK WITH. WE CARE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS DEEPLY AND ALWAYS HAVE. PART OF IT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW MORE AND UNDERSTAND MORE. IT IS PART OF OUR CHALLENGE. TOO MANY OF A CHARISMATIC ANIMALS. SOME THINK IT IS WHILE LIFE, SOME THINK IT IS LIVESTOCK, SOME THINK IT IS A PEST. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT IT IS VIEWED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT IS PART OF OUR CHALLENGE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ONE OF THE PRIMARY MECHANISM SWEAR RATIONAL THINKING, CONSULTATION, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, FINDING THE COMMON GROUND, WILL HELP US NAVIGATE THE WAY FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT WITH US TODAY AND TOMORROW. FOR VOLUNTEERING TO DO IT, THANK YOU AGAIN. UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE ARE READY TO MOVE INTO THE PO WEEP -- POWERPOINT UPDATE.
>> [QUESTION INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW AFTERNOON. ANYONE ELSE? THE POWER POINT?
>> IS RIGHT THERE. I AM STANDING IN FOR HOLLY BROOKS, WHO IS OUR ANALYSTS. I WILL BE WORKING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE WE MOVE ON. FOR THE AUDIENCE BENEFIT, WE HAVE A PIE CHART OF YEAR. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE SLIDES. FOR THE BOARD'S INTEREST, UNDER TAB 5, THE SAME INFORMATION PRESENTING -- PRESENTED IN THE SLIDE IS IN TABULAR FORM. I WILL LET YOU FIND THAT. THE SLIDE ON THE SCREEN IS THE UPPER PART OF YOUR BOOK IN CERTIFICATION. -- BOOK INSERT. IT IS OUR SPENDING PLAN FOR 2012. IT IS $77 MILLION. IT IS BROKEN UP FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROCESS. THE WAY WE PLANNED TO SPEND MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS BROKEN INTO WHAT WE CALL PROGRAM ELEMENTS. THERE ARE 11 OF THEM. ALL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE PIE CHART READ PORTION IT IS FOR HG, LETTERS THAT STAND FOR OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. IN 2012, WE PLAN TO SPEND ABOUT 10% OF OUR BUDGET ON THAT ELEMENT, $8 MILLION. I WILL COVER THE BIG PIECES OF THE SPENDING PLAN IN 2012. HOLDING IS 58%. SHORT-TERM HOLDING, THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PIPE AT OVER $27 MILLION. 36% OF IT, ALONG WITH LONG-TERM HOLDING, WHICH IS 22%, NEARLY $17 MILLION. A FULL 58% OF OUR BUDGET IN 2012 IS PLANNED FOR FEEDING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS AND SHORT AND LONG-TERM HOLDING. THE OTHER, BIGGER PIECES OF THE PIPE WERE ADOPTIONS AT 10%, THE GATHER PORTION AT 11%, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART THAT COVERS ALL OF OUR COMPUTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WASHINGTON OFFICE WAGES, TRAVEL TO CONDUCT ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, TRAVEL FOR OUR TEAMS TO DO BUSINESS, THOSE ARE THESE PIECES OF THE PIPE AT ABOUT 16% OF THE WHOLE. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT AND THE PROGRESS TO DATE IN 2012. WE ARE RIGHT WHERE WE SHOULD BE, ABOUT HALF OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT. MORE MONEY TO OBLIGATE TO LONG- TERM HOLDING. WE ARE ON TRACK TO BE WITHIN BUDGET. WHAT I DID NOT MENTION IS, ALONG WITH EACH OF THESE PROGRAM ELEMENTS NOT REPRESENTED HERE, THERE ARE TARGETS FOR WHAT THE FIELD IS TO ACCOMPLISH. FOR EXAMPLE, HG, THE ADOPTION PART, THERE ARE TARGETS FOR NUMBERS OF ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. EACH OF THE STATE'S ADDED UP TO BE OUR NATIONAL TARGET. FOR 2012, IT IS ABOUT 4200 ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALWAYS ASK, HOW MUCH MONEY IS OBLIGATED TO THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT THIS YEAR? I MENTIONED THAT WE GOT $7.7 MILLION TOWARDS ADOPTIONS, UP $3.75 MILLION OF THAT IS TO THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY ALWAYS ASK ABOUT RESEARCH. IN 2012, WE HAVE $600,000 GOING TO RESEARCH. 250,000 OF THAT IS TO THE SPAYBACK PROJECT. RESEARCH AND TRIALS, TO THE STUDY YOU VISITED THIS MORNING, THERE IS ABOUT $100,000 GOING TO THAT. WE HAVE SET ASIDE $250,000 FOR A COUPLE OF NEW RESEARCH ENDEAVORS WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THIS YEAR WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IN THE RESEARCH UPDATE. THAT IS THE 2012 BUDGET SUMMARY. I WILL REVIEW WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FOR 2013. FIRST, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR 2012?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE ANY RESEARCH THAT IS PART OF THIS -- RANGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS BUDGET?
>> THERE ARE A FEW. WE HAVE HAD SOME IN OREGON, BUT NOT THAT MANY. THEY WOULD COME THROUGH IN TWO ELEMENTS THAT ARE NOT ACTUALLY HEAR. I GUESS IF THERE ARE NONE LISTED, THERE ARE NONE PLANNED EXCEPT THOSE LISTED THROUGH VOLUNTEER PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD EARLIER TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DOES NOT MEAN THERE ARE NOT OTHER RANGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON. THERE ARE MANY. MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER PROJECTS THROUGH THE RANGE PROGRAM FOR LIVESTOCK USE, HORSES CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM THOSE. ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS ON THE RANGE OF MANAGEMENT THAT BENEFIT HORSES AND BURROS. NOT SPECIFICALLY FUNDED BY OUR PROGRAM, MORE FUNDED BY RANGELAND MANAGEMENT FUNDING. AND COLLECTED FROM GRAZING RECEIPTS AND ALL OF THAT THAT SOME OF YOU ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THAN OTHERS. MORE QUESTIONS ON 2012.
>> TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, WHEN I AM LOOKING AT THE MANAGEMENT AREAS, THE RANGE MONITORING ITSELF, THEY ARE OUT DOING MONITORING IN GENERAL. IS THAT BEING CHARGED TO THIS PROGRAM OR IS THAT CHARGED TO THE OFFICE IN GENERAL?
>> GOOD QUESTION. SOME OF BOTH. THE HORSE MONEY GOES TO FORCE BUDGETS AND -- TO HORSE BUDGETS AND THERE IS A LARGE PORTION FOR MONITORING GRAZING. THERE IS LOTS OF MONITORING BEING DONE. HOPEFULLY, THOSE COMPONENTS ARE BEING COLLATED TOGETHER AND BEING CONSIDERED AS ONE SET OF DATA. THERE IS OTHER MONITORING, A SEGMENT CALLED CENSUS OR POPULATION SURVEY, THAT IS NOT INCLUDED. MP REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO VEGETATION MONITORING. AND MONITORING OF COURSE HEALTH AS WELL. -- OF HORSE HEALTH AS WELL. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE 2013 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR PROJECTED BUDGET PROPOSED TO CONGRESS IS ABOUT $77 MILLION. IT PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS THE 2012 BUDGET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL PROPOSED FOR RESEARCH, WILD HORSE AND BURRO IS RESEARCH. -- AND BURRO RESEARCH. OK. THE PIECES OF THE PIE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT I REVIEWED FOR 2012, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT THE SAME IN PROPORTION FOR 2013. 57% PROJECTED TO PAY FOR HOLDING COSTS. GATHER AND REMOVAL IS LESS BY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN 2013. MORE FOCUS ON POPULATION, OUTGROWTHS SUPPRESSION IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IN 2012. I SAID MORE, BUT ABOUT THE SAME. NOT TOO MUCH NEW FOR WHAT IS PROJECTED FOR 2013, EXCEPT FOR AN ADDED $2 MILLION FOR RESEARCH. THE RESEARCH MONEY WOULD PROBABLY BE SPENT BY REQUESTING PROPOSALS THAT ARE NEW ALONG THE POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION LINES AND THAT WOULD ALSO RESPOND TO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, WITH. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.
>> IS IT THAT OBVIOUS? MY CONCERN WAS I HAD A QUESTION OUTLINED ON THE PRINTED FORM THAT CAME IN OUR BOOKS AS OPPOSED TO THE PIE CHART IN POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION APPLICATIONS. IN THAT ONE, A DRAMATIC DROP FROM 500,000 TO 75,000. FOR THE PIE CHART, VERY SIMILAR FROM 2012 TO TO 2013. WOULD THAT THE THE COST OF ANY PHARMACEUTICALS THEMSELVES?
>> I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
>> KG.
>> THAT IS A NEW PROGRAM ELEMENT WHICH REFERS TO THE COST TO GATHER ANIMALS FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION TREATMENT. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE DRUGS.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE KF.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT. SO ANIMALS TREATED. KG, THAT IS $567,000.
>> IT GOES DOWN ON YOUR CHART, ON YOUR LISTING NUMERICALLY, IT SAYS IT IS DOWN TO $175,000. LOOKING AT YOUR PIE CHART, IT IS AT $500,000 FOR BOTH YEARS.
>> WHERE DO YOU SEE THE $175,000 FIGURE?
>> ON THE SECOND CHART FOR 2013.
>> I THINK HOLLY HAS SPLIT THOSE OUT DIFFERENTLY, IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO ME. THERE IS NOT A REDUCTION IN FUNDING. I THINK IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH WHERE THE COST OF THE DRUGS ARE PUT. I'M SORRY. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT HOW SHE HAS PRESENTED THIS. I AM NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE PIE CHART IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> YES.
>> HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF THE DRUGS?
>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YES FOR PZB22, THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY USING, THE COST OF MANUFACTURING IS $310 PER DOSE. IT USED TO BE AROUND $240. BUT IT IS $310 AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THAT IS ONLY THE COST OF CAPTURE, NOT THE COST OF LABOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> I HAVE SOME NOTES BELOW THE 200 FIGURE AND A NOTE ABOVE THE 310. THIS ONE HAS $410,000 FOR 1000 DOSES. THAT IS 410 DOSES.
>> INCLUDED IS THE -- INCLUDED IN THAT IS THE RESEARCH FROM THE STUDY THAT WE VISITED THIS MORNING. THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS BLENDED INTO THAT $410,000. I KNOW IT IS CONFUSING.
>> I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THE VACCINE WAS LESS THAN THAT.
>> $310 PER DOSE. AROUND $20 PER DOSE FOR THE ONE THAT WAS JUST REGISTERED WITH THE EPA.
>> WHAT WAS THAT AMOUNT AGAIN?
>> IT IS THE 1-YEAR VACCINE, ABOUT $20-25 PER DOSE. I CAN VERIFY THE EXACT COST. I AM AFRAID I HAVE USED UP ALL OF MY TIME.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A LIBERTY RIGHT HERE. THAT ONE-YEAR, DID YOU JUST SAY THAT AT ONE-YOUR PREPARATION, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN STUDYING THAT?
>> THE ONE YEAR VACCINE?
>> IT HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND IT WAS JUST NOW REGISTERED FOR THE EPA.
>> THEREIN LIES A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. HERE IS THE DRUG THAT WE KNOW HAS NO APPLICABLE VALUE FOR OUR NEEDS CURRENTLY. IT IS JUST BEING REGISTERED AND IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THAT THE AGENCY IS MOVING TOWARDS CONTROL AS OPPOSED TO GATHERS AND REMOVAL.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON THAT. IT IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND IT IS FINED. MY POINT BEING, THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE ARE JUST NOW SEEING REGISTRATION OF A PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR OUR NEEDS.
>> TAKES A LONG TIME. NOT NEARLY AS RIGOROUS OF DRUGS FOR HUMANS, BUT STILL LENGTHY. ARE WE READY TO MOVE ON TO PROGRAM UPDATES?
>> YES, WE ARE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ARE WE TAKING A BREAK OR ARE WE STILL GOING? OK, GREAT.
>> CAN YOU GET THE GATHERS SLIDE UP PLEASE? PRETTY SIMPLE. FOR 2012, THE WINTER GATHERS, IT SAYS COMPLETED, BUT THAT IS FOR THE ACTUALS WE HAVE DONE, 7837 AS FAR AS IT GATHERED AND 5873 WERE REMOVED. THERE WERE 883 MARES THAT RETREATED DURING WINTER. THE PROPOSED FOR THIS SUMMER IS 2549 AND 2509 REMOVED. ON THIS PROPOSED GATHERS THAT WE HAVE, PART OF THOSE ARE PART OF THE SERVICE. WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A PER CAPITA OF 7600 FOR THE YEAR OF 2012. THAT WILL BE -- BLM WILL BE DOING THAT UNLESS WE HAVE SOME EMERGENCY GATHERS. AT THIS POINT, BOROUGHS ARE PART OF IT BUT SERVICE FORCES ARE NOT CONSIDERED PART OF IT. WHEN IT IS ADDED UP, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DOING A LOT MORE. NEXT SLIDE. FOR FY2013, AGAIN CAUGHT IT IS 8504 THAT WILL BE GATHERED AND 7017 WILL BE REMOVED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MAYORS TREATED AT THIS TIME -- MARES TREATED AT THIS TIME IS 658. WE ARE LOOKING AT RELEASING MALE HORSES WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT COMES OUT. BUT IT IS THE NUMBER OF MALE HORSES OVER AND ABOVE THE NUMBER OF FEMALE HORSES THAT ARE RELEASED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED WAS 838. PART OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING AS MANY GATHERS IN THE FALL. WHICH IS THE OPTIMUM TIME. WE ARE DOING IT IN THE SUMMER. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS BASE ISSUES THAT WE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT. THE FACT THAT IT COSTS A LOT MORE MONEY TO HOLD HORSES FOR THE FULL YEAR PURSES HALF A YEAR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALRIGHT, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK. . .
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUR SEATS IF WE COULD AND WE'LL GET STARTED. OK. BEFORE WE GO ON WITH OUR UPDATES WE'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP SINCE THE BREAK. LILY? JOHN FALLON, WHY DON'T YOU COME SIT DOWN?
>> YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN?
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO GATHERS AND BAIT TRAPPING.
>> SORRY FOR BEING A NEWSPAPERY, I'M A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. I -- A NEWBIE, I AIM A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. BUT DO YOU HAVE REPORTS OF BAIT TRAPPING OR HORSES EASIER THAN BURROS, DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? JUST CURIOUS INFORMATION.
>> ASIDE FROM THE GIGGLES? PROPOSALS AREN'T DUE UNTIL MAY 1. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW AVENUE THAT WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. I'M REALLY KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> RIGHT. BUT ON SOME OF THESE, LIKE ARIZONA, THERE WAS --
>> THESE ARE ALL DONE WITH EITHER IN-HOUSE GATHERS WHICH WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, ALL THE BAIT TRAPPING YOU'RE SEEING ON THERE IS EITHER DONE IN-HOUSE OR IT'S BEING DONE BY LOCAL DISTRICT CONTRACTS WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WENT FOR THE NATIONAL CONTRACT, KIND OF GAVE US THE IDEA OF HOW WELL IT WORKS IN SOME OF THE AREAS BETTER THAN OTHERS. BURROS ARE DIFFERENT AS FAR AS BAIT TRAPPING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MONSOONS DON'T COME IN BECAUSE ONCE THEY DO -- OR IF THERE'S AN EXTRA RAIN SPOT HERE OR THERE, THEY JUST SCATTER. BURROS DON'T STAY IN HERDS LIKE HORSES DO, SO THEY ARE VERY SOLITARY MORE SO AS FAR AS THEIR HABITATS. SOME OF THEM COME TOGETHER BUT MOSTLY IT'S WHEN THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OR LESS WATER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND AS FAR AS ON THE HORSES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT US ON THIS OTHER WAS THAT WE HAVE THIS MERGE CREEK AND YOU LOOK ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MERGE CREEK ALL THE TIME BUT MERGE CREEK IS A VERY TIMBERED AREA. SO WHEN WE'VE GONE IN THERE WITH HELICOPTER AND THE HORSES GET IN THE TREES AND GO HEY, GOOD. THEY DON'T MOVE. THEY'VE GONE IN WITH THEM BY HORSE BACK, THEY JUST RUN AROUND THE TREES AND THE GUYS GET HIT BY LIMBS AND THE ROPES DON'T WORK AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFICULTIES IN THAT RESPECT. BUT THERE'S A GENTLEMAN UP THERE THAT LIVES IN THE AREA THAT ACTUALLY HAS STUDIED THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF HORSES, AND SO I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO, MAYBE, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY, SO DON'T HOLD ME TO IT. ANYWAY, THEY HIRED HIM TO JUST DO THIS BAIT TRAPPING. SO WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE BAIT TRAPPING IS A VERY SLOW, VERY LOW NUMBER OF HORSES, AS THEY SAID OK, COULD YOU GET US 40 HEAD OF HORSES IN A YEAR? BUT TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS OTHER, SO WHAT HE DOES IS HE GOES OUT TO AREAS WHERE HE KNOWS THE HORSES ARE, VERY DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME, HE MAINLY USES FOOD-TYPE BAITS. SOME OF IT IS HAY OR SWEET LICKS AND SOME OF IT DIFFERENT THINGS HE'S WORKED WITH. BUT HE BUILDS THE TRAP AND MAY TAKE HIM TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO BUILD THE TRAP SO HORSES GET USED TO GOING IN AND GOING OUT. HE MAY PUT THE BAIT IN AND LEAVE IT FOR A MONTH AND THEN TRAP A FEW HORSES AND TAKE THEM TO BARNS AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE, WE ACTUALLY -- HE DID 83 HORSES
>> YEAH, I SAW THAT. IT GOES IN AND OUT. THAT H.M.A. IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON THERE.
>> THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY -- I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO WORK THE GATHER SCHEDULE WITH PUTTING THE BAIT TRAPPING IN OR WHETHER I'M GOING TO SAY IT STARTS THIS TIME, WHICH WE'VE DONE. YOU'LL SEE THAT ON SOME OF THE BURRO ONES BECAUSE THEY KIND OF GO IN THERE AND SAY THEY START OCTOBER 1 AND END SEPTEMBER 30 AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY -- THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE DOING IT ALL YEAR-ROUND.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR LILY? WHILE WE HAVE HER BAIT-TRAPPED?
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. SO ON THOSE -- THE NATIONAL CONTRACT, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT THAT CLOSE. SO IS THAT LIKE FOR A CONTRACTOR TO COVER MULTIPLE STATES OR CAN THEY BE VERY LOCALIZED?
>> THERE'S A SLIDE ON THERE IF YOU ALL WANT TO PUT IT ON. IT SHOWS -- I THINK IT'S IN YOUR BOOK TWO, I'M NOT SURE BUT IT SHOWS ZONE AND THIS IS A REALLY NEW THING FOR US. IT MAY FALL FLAT ON ITS FACE BUT ANYWAY, WE HAVE SIX ZONES THAT COVER EVERY HORSE SERVICE TERRITORY AND EVERY WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERD. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ASKED PEOPLE TO BID BY ZONE . SO IF YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR AND LIVED OVER IN THE UTAH AREA, YOU MAY BID ON ONE ZONE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE LOCAL BUT IN MERGER CREEK WHICH IS IN OREGON, WHICH IS ZONE 1, YOU MAY BID ON THAT BUT IF YOU WANTED YOU COULD BID ON ZONE 1, 2, 3 OR 4, 5 AND 6, WHICHEVER ZONES YOU KNOW THE AREA, YOU MAY ACCESS THE AREA WITH A LITTLE MOBILITY AS FAR AS MOBILIZING AND GOING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE IT'S TIME CONSUMING BUT IT'S TIME CONSUMING ON A LONG PERIOD AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY GO THERE EVERY OTHER MONTH OR WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU'RE WORKING IT AND YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THE AREA. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT -- WE DID A NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON THIS, WORKING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND B.L.M. PEOPLE IS WE FOUND OUT WE COULD PROBABLY UTILIZE 17 CONTRACTORS. SO IT'S NOT -- THEY'RE SMALL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A GUY THAT WANTS TO DO THIS, AS HE'S SHOING HORSES ON THE SIDE. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BIG CONGLOMERATE TYPE THING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL -- THAT KNOW THE AREA THAT WANT TO DO IT THIS WAY. THAT THINK IT'S FUN, YOU KNOW, ARE RETIRED, HAS WORKED WITH HORSES. ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT UNTIL ACTUALLY IT HAPPENS. GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT CALLS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT SHOULD BE KIND OF INTERESTING. THEN EACH TIME THAT WE HAVE A -- THIS IS ALSO VERY DIFFERENT. THEY WILL BE AWARDED ON THEIR TECHNICAL ABILITY. THEIR ABILITIES TO SHOW THEY KNOW HOW TO BAIT TRAP. THEN EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE A MERGERS CREEK AND PUT OUT A TASK ORDER AND EVERYONE THAT WAS WANTED IN ZONE 1 WILL HAVE TO REBID THAT SO THAT THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE BIDDING EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A TASK ORDER WHICH WE DONE DO AT THAT POINT. SO IT'S ALL GRAND NEW TO US. TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. YOU TAKE IT WHERE YOU CAN.
>> YOU FEEL THE COST -- IT'S ALL BRAND-NEW AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REAL FEEL FOR THE COSTS TO GATHER, IN YOUR -- JUST YOUR IMPRESSION, WILL IT BE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN THE HELICOPTER GATHERS WE SEE NOW?
>> THAT'S APPLES AND ORANGES, LLOYD.
>> I REALIZE THAT. I'M SAYING IF YOU LOOK AT AN OVERALL BUDGET AND WHAT IT COSTS TO BRING IN A HORSE --
>> $1,000 A HEAD IS PROBABLY WHAT IS OUR GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE. SO IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE ONE WAY BUT YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE B.L.M. INVOLVEMENT. SO LIKE RIGHT NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS -- YOU CAN'T HAVE ON THESE BAIT TRAPPING, YOU CANNOT HAVE LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE FACT IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE HORSES COMING IN. SO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT A SMALLER NUMBER OF GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE THERE. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE, YOU KNOW, B.L.M. HORSE SPECIALIST CORE THAT WOULD BE THERE PART OF THE TIME. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE TRICKY PART, WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DISTRICT ORIENTED OR FIELD OFFICE ORIENTED BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO THEM. SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD AND WHAT -- THE CONTRACTS WE'VE BEEN DOING IN NEW MEXICO WITH FOREST SERVICE AND THE OTHERS IS THAT THERE'S KIND OF A GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $1,000. THIS MAY ALSO ACTUALLY GO UP. BUT I'M HOPING BY DOING A TASK ORDER FOR EACH ONE, THE PERSON THAT LIVES CLOSER DOESN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL AS MUCH BUT THEIR COSTS WOULD BE LESS. YOU CAN GO DOWN.
>> I THINK THIS IS A TOPIC WE'LL PROBABLY BE ASKING YOU TO REPORT ON AT THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE IT IS NEW AND PROMISING, IN MY MIND, AND WE'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
>> I MEAN, THE THING ABOUT THIS IS IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE OVER HELICOPTER GATHERS BUT WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW US TO GO INTO AREAS WHERE WE'RE ZEROING OUT -- WE'RE NOT ZEROING OUT BUT TRYING TO GET THE STRAGLER HORSES WE WANT TO DO TO GET DOWN TO A.M.L. BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE TREES OR WHATEVER. AND SOME PEOPLE THINK IT POSSIBLY COULD BE USED FOR POPULATION SUPPRESSION DOWN NORTH. WE DON'T KNOW.
>> THANK YOU, LILY. OK. WE CAN GO ON NOW WITH OUR UPDATE.
>> YOU BET. I THINK NOW WE ARE TO B. WHERE ARE YOU, B? DID YOU GET PUT BACK IN THE COMPUTER?
>> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> THE FACILITY REPORT, OR THE FACILITY SUMMARY FROM APRIL 12 OF THIS MONTH. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF HORSES IN HOLDING, ALMOST 47,000 BETWEEN SHORT AND LONG-TERM. THERE'S 14,500 IN SHORT TERM WHICH THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE $5 AND SOMETHING A DAY. THEN THERE'S 32,400 IN LONG-TERM , WITH -- THERE'S AN EXTRA -- WE'VE BEEN FILLING THEM UP PRETTY FAST, THERE'S ABOUT 1,200 HEAD LEFT IN LONG-TERM HOLDING SO WE'RE SHIPPING THEM TO THE TUNE OF SIX TO EIGHT LOADS EVERY OTHER WEEK SO THEY'LL BE FILLED UP SOON. IF WE DON'T GET NEW LONG-TERM HOLDING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. SO THAT'S THE SUMMARY. WE HAVE A CAPACITY FOR 51,000 BUT WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO REACH THAT. BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. WE ALSO ARE STARTING TO STOCKPILE BURROS WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE BECAUSE THEY WERE READILY ADOPTABLE. THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE NOT MOVING OUT. SO WE OPENED UP A NEW FACILITY IN UTAH LAST WEEK AND IT WILL HAVE 400 HEAD IN IT BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE UPCOMING GATHERS IN THE SOUTH OF NEVADA. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT GOOD NEWS. SORRY.
>> WHERE ARE WE IN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, FOR LONG-TERM OR LONG-TERM PASTURES?
>> YOU KEEP JUMPING AROUND ON OUR AGENDA HERE BUT THAT'S OK. LLOYD, CAN YOU ANSWER -- LILY, CAN YOU ANSWER IT FROM THERE?
>> YEAH. [NO AUDIO] [NO AUDIO] [NO AUDIO]
>> THEN WE HAVE 120 E.A. PROCESS BEFORE WE CAN PUT ANY HORSES ON THEM. OK. NEXT SLIDE ON -- THIS IS GOOD NEWS. WE ENDED ON GOOD NEWS. THIS IS THE END OF THE YEAR STATS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. GUYS, WE'VE BEEN TRYING REAL HARD TO MAKE THIS NUMBER GO DOWN AND WE WENT DOWN 1,200 HEAD THIS YEAR SO WE'RE CELEBRATING BIGTIME. WE WENT FROM 38-4 TO 38-5 AND THEN 37-3. WE GATHERED 8,800 HORSES BUT FINALLY WE SAW A DROP IN THE POPULATION. IN THE CENSUS METHOD ARE WORKING, I THINK, BUT WE'RE FINDING MORE HORSES AS WE'RE DOING IT WHICH IS NOT GOOD NEWS BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE, RIGHT? AND THESE ARE ESTIMATES, LIKE JOAN SAID, WE HAVEN'T A CLUE HOW MANY REALLY ARE OUT THERE BUT WHAT WE THINK ARE OUT THERE.
>> THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO BROAD A STATEMENT.
>> IT'S TRUE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPHRASE THAT?
>> IF THIS NUMBER IS GOING TO GO ANYWHERE, IT'S GOING TO GO UP, NOT DOWN. THERE'S PROBABLY MORE OUT THERE THAN WE SEE. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YOU'RE NOT USING THE DIRECT COUNTS ANYMORE, THOUGH? THERE IS A VARIABLE LIKE SIGHTABILITY?
>> THEY HAVE TWO METHODS, ONE OF THEM IS -- THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THREE. THEY ARE STILL DOING DIRECT COUNTS IN SOME PLACES. THEY'RE DOING THE MARKED RECITE, THEY MARK THEM AND GO BACK WITH THE PHOTOS AND RECHECK THEM -- I MEAN, COUNT THEM A SECOND TIME. AND THEN THEY'RE DOING -- WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE OTHER METHOD? SIMULTANEOUS DOUBLE COUNT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DO ADD THAT FUDGE FACTOR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND WE'RE DOING IT ON HOW MANY HERD? 90?
>> 30.
>> 30 NEW ONES THIS YEAR AND THEY'LL COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE HAD FROM LAST YEAR AND THESE NUMBERS HERE ARE COLLECTED AS OF FEBRUARY, LIKE JOAN SAID, SO WE ONLY HAVE THE FULL CROP FROM LAST YEAR. THIS FULL CROP FROM THIS YEAR IS NOT ON HERE YET. THAT WILL BE ON NEXT YEAR'S. SO ADD 20% TO THIS. OK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU.
>> SURE YOU DON'T WANT LILY TO COME BACK AGAIN AND KEEP HARASSING HER? THANKS.
>> I THINK SALLY IS GETTING HER SLIDE UP FOR THE ADOPTION AND SALES UPDATE.
>> WE'RE AT ADOPTION AND SALES. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, I'VE DONE A COMPARISON OF THE 2011 RESULTS AND THE 2012 RESULTS. AND THEY BOTH ARE AS OF APRIL 12. SO IF YOU LOOK AND SEE, WE ARE -- HAVE FEWER ADOPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN -- OR ANIMALS ADOPTED THIS YEAR IN 2012 THAN WE DID IN 2011. AND IT'S MOST NOTICEABLE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATES THAT NORMALLY DO THE LARGER ADOPTIONS. YOU HAVE EASTERN STATES, THIS YEAR THEY ADOPTED 360 ANIMALS. LAST YEAR THEY ADOPTED 425. SO THAT'S A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE. ALSO, NEW MEXICO, THEY HAVEN'T ADOPTED AS MANY AS THEY DID LAST YEAR AT THIS SAME TIME. ONE THING THAT WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, THOUGH, IS THAT IT WAS MENTIONED THERE IS A TARGET FOR THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. AND ACTUALLY, THAT TARGET IS 4,475. AND SO 2,475 ANIMALS WILL BE ADOPTED BY B.L.M., AND 2,000 WILL BE ADOPTED THROUGH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. AND SO FAR TO DATE AS OF APRIL 12, 610 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE B.L.M. AND 484 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THROUGH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. SO THAT -- WHAT THAT MEANS ARE THOSE ARE ANIMALS THAT ACTUALLY ARE ADOPTED, NOT ANIMALS IN THE PRISON TRAINING PROGRAM THAT ARE IN TRAINING AND THEN LIKE HOLLYWOOD WHO YOU SAW TODAY WHO IS PROMISED TO SOMEBODY, IS ACTUAL, COMPLETE ADOPTIONS. THAT'S THE SAME WITH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION WITH THEIR TIP PROGRAM. THERE ARE A LOT MORE ANIMALS OUT BEING TRAINED BUT THE ADOPTION PAPERWORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET SO WE DON'T COUNT IT UNTIL THE ADOPTION IS FINAL. I MEAN, THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON, THOUGH. EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO GET MORE ANIMALS MOVED. AND WE HAVE FOUND THE TRAINED ANIMALS DO ADOPT BETTER THAN THE UNTRAINED. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECTS. AND SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT JOAN DID NOT MENTION IS WE HAVE ANOTHER DETAIL THAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COME JOIN US. SHE'S WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. AND IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT, SHE WILL BE HELPING TO COORDINATE GETTING MORE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECTS TO USE MUSTANGS TO HELP SET UP THINGS SO WE CAN USE THE ANIMALS FOR THERAPY. BUT THEN ALSO TO HELP SOME OF THE WOUNDED WARRIORS TO WORK WITH TRAINERS TO LEARN HOW TO TRAIN ANIMALS SO THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER CAREER. SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND HOPEFULLY THAT OF COURSE WILL GET GREAT P.R. AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR EVERYBODY. WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THAT. I DID JUST GET SOME GOOD NEWS FROM THE MADISON EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER EVENT. THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND. AND THEY HAD 31 TRAINERS AND MUSTANGS THAT COMPETED. ALL 31 OF THE ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED. THE AVERAGE WAS THE AVERAGE WAS 4 $625. -- WAS FOR $625. ANOTHER VERY EXCITING EVENT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADOPTION PORTION?
>> AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS AN ADOPTION INTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PROGRAM. HOW DID THAT GO? WAS THERE ANY FEEDBACK FROM THEM? THE OTHER QUESTION RELATING TO THAT IS ALSO THE MARKETING REPORT THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2000 STILL HAS SOME REALLY GOOD, APPLICABLE COMPONENTS OF IT. DID THAT GET LOOKED AT BY THAT REVIEW TEAM? ADOPTION IS CLOSE TO MY HEART SINCE I AM AND A DOCTOR. I THINK IT IS STILL A VERY VIABLE PART OF BLM.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE PROGRAM. THAT IS ONE OF THE TEAMS THAT HAS NOT BEEN PULLED TOGETHER YET THAT WILL BE PULLED TOGETHER AND WILL LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION. IT WILL LOOK AT OTHER MARKETING IDEAS. THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE FOR AN EXTRA OIL EXPERT FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSIST WITH THE TEAM. THAT WILL BE PULLED TOGETHER PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS, I THINK. THE BILL OF SALES, CAN WE BRING THE SLIDE BACK OUT. THANK YOU. SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TOLD 219 ANIMALS. LAST YEAR, AT THIS SAME TIME, 460 ANIMALS WERE SOLD. SO SALES ARE DOWN. FROM THE LAST MEETING, WE DID LOOK AT THE BILL OF SALES. ALSO, THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRES. THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AND THESE ARE NOW UP ON THE WEBSITE AND IN YOUR BOOK. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WAS CHANGED IS THAT WE ADDED ANOTHER FEW SENTENCES AT THE VERY BOTTOM. IT SAYS, "THIS SALE IS NULL AND VOID AND THE ANIMALS WILL REMAIN PROTECTED UNDER A LOT IF THE PURCHASER MAKES ANY MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION IN THE APPLICABLE APPLICATION TO PURCHASE WILD HORSES AND PEROT -- AND BURROS. INCLUDING REPRESENTATIONS' ABOUT THE PURPOSES AND WERE USED FROM WHICH THE ANIMALS ARE -- AND USE FOR WHICH THE ANIMALS ARE CONTAINED." WE WORKED WITH THE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THIS INFORMATION WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK TWICE IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING BAD FOR THE HORSES OR HAD ANY FOOLISHNESS IN MIND. THEY COULD PROSECUTE NOW NOT ONLY UNDER UNDERTHINGS, BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACT.
>> IS THIS GOING TO HELP US OUT?
>> IT WILL HELP US OUT WITH THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IN UTAH. FOR MICHIGAN, THAT ONE, I AM NOT SURE. SHE DID NOT REALLY BREAK ANY LAWS. SHE JUST GOT OVER HER HEAD. HOPEFULLY, WHEN WE SPEND MORE TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE, IT WILL HELP THEM REALIZE THAT -- ONE THING IN THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRES. THERE IS A LOT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DESCRIBING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HORSES SO THERE WILL BE A MORE THOROUGH --
>> I DID SOME BACKGROUND WORK ON THE THING IN MICHIGAN. SHE HAD OTHER HORSES ON THE PROPERTY THAT WERE VERY WELL TAKEN CARE FOR.
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
>> I DID. THE ONLY REASON SHE WAS NOT PROSECUTED IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT. SHE VERY DELIBERATELY STARVED THOSE HORSES AND DID NOT FEED THOSE FORCES. -- THOSE HORSES. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO THE PROSECUTORS, THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE TO ALERTED ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO I TALKED TO STEVE AS WELL. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING -- THESE HORSES ARE BEING SOLD WITHOUT CONDITIONS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLACE WHERE THAT CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY HORRIBLE THING.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. IT JUST TEARS YOUR HEART OUT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW ANYBODY CAN MISTREAT AN ANIMAL.
>> THE ISSUE WAS THAT ALL OF HER HORSES -- I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES. THOSE HORSES CAME FROM TWIN PEAKS. IT WAS HEART WRENCHING. TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED THERE. AND THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR TOLD ME, THE ONLY REASON WE ARE NOT PROSECUTING HER IS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO IT. THEY HAD TO PRIORITIZE MORE SECURE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED BUT I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A LANGUAGE IN THOSE SALES, IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO WHERE WE CAN CHANGE THAT SO THAT WE DO HAVE SOME RECOURSE IF SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THERE IS A DELIBERATE INTENT IN THERE, SOME KIND OF RECOURSE TO GO BACK.
>> I CANNOT ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW. WE CAN TALK TO THE SOLICITORS. I DO NOT KNOW THE LEGALITY OF ALL OF IT.
>> IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO MENTION HERE IN THE MEETING.
>> IS A VERY, VERY GOOD POINT. ONE OTHER THING THAT WE DID THAT HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE PEOPLE, MAKE SURE WE KNOW THERE ARE SERIOUS WHEN THEY ARE CONSIDERING BUYING HORSES, WE ADDED A LINE IN THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT SAYS, I AGREE TO PROVIDE HUMANE CARE OR NOT TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION WITH THE INTEREST TO RESELL OR TRADE OR GIVE ANIMALS AWAY FOR PROCESSING OR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS. THAT IS IN THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE. AND THEY HAVE TO SIGN IT IF THEY ARE INTERESTED. THE SIGNATURE WILL TIED TO THE BILL OF SALES WHICH CAN THEN BE USED BY LAW-ENFORCEMENT IF NEED BE.
>> THAT IS A REALLY NICE, POSITIVE CHANGE.
>> WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIVE. AS WITH YOU, WE DO NOT WANT ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO THE HORSES.
>> I NEVER HAD THE MOST REMOTE THOUGHT THAT THE PEOPLE AND THE BLM DO NOT CARE ABOUT THESE HORSES. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME -- SOMEONE THAT WILL SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND FIND A WAY TO GET AROUND LEGISLATION. YOU CANNOT PREDICT EVERYTHING. BUT I THINK THESE CHANGES WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON ADOPTION OF SALES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> WE WERE GONNA WRAP UP WITH THE SOLICITATIONS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE COVERED THE LONG-TERM HOLDING AND THE BAIT TRAPPING. UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE, THAT IS ALL WE HAD FOR TODAY'S AGENDA. COULD WE AND ITS EARLY? THIS NEVER HAPPENS. -- COULD WE END IT EARLY? THIS NEVER HAPPENS.
>> COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY?
>> I COULD NOT ONLY TELL YOU, BUT WE CAN PUT IT ON AT 5:00. WE COULD TAKE A 20-MINUTE BREAK. LET'S SEE. WHAT BACKGROUND CAN I GIVE? THAT CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER BACKGROUND. -- ED CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER BACKGROUND. DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
>> ONE THING I WAS GOING TO ASK IS, DO WE WANT TO GO THROUGH TOMORROW'S AGENDA FIRST AND THEN I CAN DO THIS JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TOMORROW OR DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE ALL SEEN IT?
>> I THINK CATHY -- DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO REVIEW TOMORROW'S AGENDA NOW?
>> JUST TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP AND THEN I WILL DO A SHORT INTRO TO WHAT THE DOCUMENTARY IS. WHILE SHE IS GETTING THAT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH BOB ABBEY AND MIKE POOLE ABOUT THE PROGRAM OVER THE THREE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN AS ART DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THEY HAVE OBSERVED THAT WE NEVER REALLY HAD ANY KIND OF VIDEO THAT TOLD THE STORY OF THE WILD HORSES AND BURROS BACK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. ALSO, BROUGHT IN THE PERSPECTIVES OF THOSE FROM OUTSIDE. IT IS NOT JUST A DOCUMENTARY OF BLM FOLKS. IT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE HISTORY OF THE ACT. WHAT MADE THE ACT NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE. AND HOW THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE UNDER THE ACT MANAGE FOR WILD HORSES AND BURROS. I THINK THE GENESIS OF THE IDEA CAME OUT OF SOME OF THE VIDEOS THAT WERE DONE AT 26 WHEN THEY STARTED TELLING THE STORY. WE WANTED TO SEE A STORY FROM PRE-GATHER, HOW WE GO OUT AND INVENTORY THE LAND, LOOK AT THE ANIMALS , FROM GATHER TO ADOPTION, TRAINING PROGRAMS, ETC. THIS FILM PRETTY MUCH TELLS THE WHOLE STORY. IT TALKS ABOUT VELMA JOHNSON AND HER ROLE IN IT. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY -- I LIKE THAT. IS THERE A POKER PLAYER IN THE AUDIENCE? THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE, A VIDEO THAT WAS DONE TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION'S WILD HORSES AND DOCUMENT OUR EXPERIENCES FROM 1971, THE PAST 40 YEARS SINCE THE ACT WAS PASSED. WE WILL SHOW THAT AFTER WE CONCLUDE THE MEETING. I WILL LET CATHY TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TOMORROW.
>> A QUICK CONSENSUS. WE JUST DID A BREAK. WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT ANOTHER 20 MINUTES. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND AS SOON AS THE MOVIE IS QUEUED UP, WE WILL WATCH THE MOVIE.
>> WE DO NOT HAVE POPCORN YET.
>> JUST BRIEFLY, SINCE YOU ASKED ME TO, TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL BEGIN AT 8:00, THERE WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
>> HE IS ON HIS WAY UP.
>> IT IS A VERY GOOD THING. BY THE WAY, WE DID NOT DO THE WHOLE TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE THING. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY, IT WAS BETTER THAN A MOVIE WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO TELL YOU TO TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE. THANK YOU. WE WILL START AT 8:00, WE WILL HAVE BOTH THE SAGE-GROUSE AND SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAM UPDATES. UNTIL OUR KENNECOTT 30 BREAK. AT 10:45, WE WILL BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT. MOST OF YOU HAS -- HAVE SIGNED UP. YOU HAVE UNTIL 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING TO TELL US THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. THAT HELPS US KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE CAN GIVE EVERYBODY. IT TENDS TO BE ABOUT THREE MINUTES. WE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT WE HAVE. AND WE WILL STOP AT NOON. YOU WILL BE USING THIS TABLE, THIS MICROPHONE. YOU WILL BE DIRECTLY ADDRESSING THE BOARD. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO. UNTIL NOON TOMORROW. AFTER LUNCH, WE HAVE SOME BOARD -- INTERNAL BOARD BUSINESS. WE DO NEED CHAIRS, LOOKING AT OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. AND THEN THE BOARD WILL BE TALKING AMONGST THEMSELVES AND MAKING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BLM VERY SPECIFICALLY. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY MOVIES? JUST HANG IN AND AS SOON AS THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THE HORSES COME OUT, -- I AM SORRY, BOYD , I NEED TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU SO YOU CAN OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.
>> UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM A BOARD MEMBER -- SEEING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 8:00. BEFORE WE LEAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ROBIN AND GARY. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO START IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES. GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR AGENDA AS -- AGENDAS. IF YOU ARE CONFUSED, I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SERVING AS AN TRUNK SHARE. TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION, IT IS A DIFFICULT SET OF SHOES TO STEP INTO. RABIN HAS DONE IT FOR A LONG TIME. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE NUANCES OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH IT AND THE HORSES. BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROCKLIN FOR THE YEAR SHE HAS PUT IN. [APPLAUSE] SECONDLY, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THIS MORNING TO THE NEVADA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN CARSON CITY, AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE HORSE PROGRAM GOING ON OUT THERE. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IF THERE IS A BRIGHT SPOT ON THE HORIZON, WE ALL TEND TO GO TO THESE MEETINGS AND WATCH THE PROGRAM -- THAT FACILITY OUT OF THERE IS A BRIGHT SPOT AND EMBLEMATIC OF A LOT OF THE GOOD THINGS GOING ON IN THIS PROGRAM. WE SAW SOME SUPPORT OF THINGS. WE SAW SOME INMATES WORKING WITH HORSES. THERE WERE LEARNT -- LEARNING SOME OF THE SAME LESSONS THEY WERE TRYING TO RELATE AND TEACH TO THEIR HORSES. PERSONALLY, I ENJOYED GOING OUT THERE. WE HAD CAMP GRANT, THE LEAD OF THE FACILITY, AND WE HAD THE LEAD TRAINER. HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THAT ENDEAVOR. THE NEXT THING IS INTRODUCTIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND SO THAT THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING CAN GET AN IDEA WHO IS SERVING.
>> ROBERT, RESEARCH ADVISER AND POINT ON THE BOARD. MY BACKGROUND HAS BEEN WITH HORSES ALL MY LIFE. FARMS. I HAVE A DOCTORATE IN ANIMAL NUTRITION, SPECIALIZING IN EQUINE NUTRITION. I WAS SPECIALIZING FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. NOW I CONSOLED A MAJORITY OF MY KIDS. BACKGROUND WITH HORSES OUTSIDE OF THE ACADEMIC ASPECT AND THE RESEARCH HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH EXTENSIONS . THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HORSES PERSONALLY, AND I HAVE PACKED IN CERES FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS. I CONDUCTED RESEARCH WITH WILD HORSES. AS I TOLD ONE OF THE INMATES, HORSES WERE IS SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY LIFE AS A CHILD AFTER THE TRAGIC LOSS OF A BROTHER. I DO SEE HOW HORSES OF A BIG INFLUENCE ON THEM. I AGREE WITH YOU, HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH WHAT THEY HAD DONE. NOT JUST FROM THE HORSE ASPECT OF WITH THEM AS INDIVIDUALS.
>> YES, MY NAME IS JUNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL MUSTANG ASSOCIATION. I SERVED ON THE BOARD. THIS IS MY VERY FIRST MEETING. AS THE WILD HORSE AND BUREAU ADVOCACY. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THE HORSE PROGRAM EVOLVES. WE MAINTAIN SANCTUARY WHERE WE CAN KEEP UP TO 72 HORSES. THEY'RE ALL PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROGRAM. WE TAKE THOSE COURSES MAY BE FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ADOPTED A HORSE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP IT FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, AND WOULD PREFER FOR IT NOT TO GO TO SLAUGHTER. SO IF WE TAKE THAT COURSE AND IT GETS TO LIVE ITS LIFE AT THE SAME AS IT WOULD BE WHEN IT WAS IN THE WILD. WE ALSO WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING THE PRISON PROGRAM, AS WE SAW TODAY HERE IN CARSON CITY AND IN UTAH. IT IS IN ITS INFANCY. IT HAS NOT PROGRESSED AS MUCH AS THE ONE HERE. WE FEEL VERY PROUD OF OUR INVESTMENT IN THAT PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS AN ADVANTAGE TO THE INMATES AS WELL AS TO THE WHO HORSES ON IN AT THE PROGRAM.
>> SENSITIVITY, MAINE ADVOCACY AND HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR TWO YEARS -- WILL I AM TIM, MAIN ADVOCACY. "THEY CHANGED A LOT OF THE PROTOCOLS, AND THERE WERE QUITE INHUMANE. WHY HAD A STRONG INTEREST WITH MUSTANG HERDS FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING MY OWN FOR 15 YEARS. I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING THEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE REST OF MY TERM. WE WILL SEE CHANGES ARE MADE.
>> HELLO. I AM JULIE, A NATIVE. THE I GREW UP RIDING MUSTANGS. I DO NOT WANT TO AGE MYSELF TOO MUCH, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE ACT. I HAVE BEEN A HORSE PERSON MY WHOLE LIFE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, EITHER AS A PART-TIME TRAINER, FALLING OUT MARES, GIVING LESSONS, COMPETING AS AN AMATEUR. IN 1999, I WAS APPOINTED TO THE STATE WILD HORSE COMMISSION. IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO BE PART OF THAT COMMISSION, BECAUSE WE FORMED THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THAT WE SAW TODAY, AS WELL AS THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. THOSE ARE TWO GREAT PROGRAMS TO BE A PART OF, AND I WAS PROUD OF EVERYTHING I SAW TODAY. I REPRESENT -- I WOULD NOT REPRESENT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IF I DID NOT SAY THAT. I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> I AM A LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARIAN PRACTITIONER FROM NEVADA. I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE WORKING ON HORSES AND PRACTICING AND USING OUR OWN HORSES. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WE RUN ABOUT 20 HORSES IN ONE PLACE. BUT WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF EXPOSURE. YES THE BEGINNING MY THIRD TERM ON THE BOARD. WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND BEAT -- PASS IT ON.
>> MY NAME IS GARY ZAKOTNIK AND I AM FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WYOMING. I REPRESENT LIVESTOCK ON THE BOARD. WE ARE LAND RANCHERS. WE HAVE ONE ALLOTMENT AS PART OF ASHERD MANAGEMENT -- AS PART OF THE HERD MANAGEMENT AREA. THERE IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HORSE PROGRAM IN SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING. THEN WE HAVE AN ALIGNMENT THAT JUST AS HORSES. I SEE AND THEM INVOLVED WITH HORSES EVERY DAY, WILD HORSES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM CALLIE HENDRICKSON FROM WESTERN COLORADO. I SPEND MOST OF MY ENTIRE LIFE WITHIN 100 MILES OF GRAND JUNCTION, AND I AM THE PUBLIC APPOINTEE ON TO THE BOARD. I THINK I HAVE A RATHER VARIED BACKGROUND, COMING OVER BY EURO VAN, AND THEN I WENT THROUGH THELAMAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE HORSE TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. TRAINED HORSES PROFESSIONALLY FOR ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT YEARS. DECIDED WANTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND BECOME A SCHOOL TEACHER. SO I STUDIED THIS BUSINESS IN GENERAL, HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN OFFICE ADMINISTRATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN MARKETING. FROM THERE, I TAUGHT SCHOOL AND ACTUALLY TAUGHT UP AT THE JOB CORPS, SO TODAY WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING DAY. THOSE WERE A LOT OF AT-RISK STUDENTS THAT WE HAD THERE, AND I REALLY ENJOYED DOING THAT. I CAN SEE THE VALLEY BETWEEN THE HORSES AND THE KIDS WHO WERE AT- RISK AT THAT POINT. FROM THERE, I WENT TO WORK FOR THE COLORADO ASSOCIATION CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. IT FOCUSED ON THE WIDE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES WITHIN THE STATE OF COLORADO, AND THEN I GOT PRETTY INVOLVED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL. WORD FOR THE STATE CONSERVATION BOARD UNDER THE STATE OF COLORADO FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND NOW WORKING FOR TWO INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS THAT ARE KIND OF HOME TO THE MAJORITY OF THE KIND OF HORSES IN COLORADO. THAT IS WHERE I REALLY GOT MORE INVOLVED IN A RANGE LAND HEALTH ISSUES AND THE HORSES. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID AND ALWAYS WILL SAY IS HORSES ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A PART OF MY LIFE. THAT IS SOMETHING I DEARLY ENJOY AND CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAT DIRECTION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND HELP OUT WITH THE BOARD'S DECISION. SO THANK YOU.
>> I AM PAUL DURBIN. I AM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. I GREW UP IN NORTHERN NEVADA AND HAVE LIVED IN WORKED IN THE NORTHERN NEVADA MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE UNTIL MOVING TO ARIZONA ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO. OVER THESE YEARS, I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY WILDLIFE ORGANIZATIONS, A FEW OF WHICH ARE LISTED IN MY BIO, AS WELL AS MANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. EVERYTHING FROM HABITAT RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE TO LOCATIONS AND SO FORTH. THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR ON THE BOARD.
>> I AM JAMES STEPHENSON . THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD. I HAVE BEEN TO ONE MEETING SO FAR. I SPENT THE LAST 16 YEARS WORKING FOR THE YAKAMA INDIAN NATION IN WASHINGTON, SOUTH- CENTRAL WASHINGTON. THEY ARE BIG GAME BIOLOGIST. I ALSO HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT FOR WILD HORSES. WE HAVE SUMMER AROUND 15,000 HEAD ON ABOUT 400,000 ACRES -- SOMEWHERE AROUND 15,000 HAD APPEARED I HAVE TO ADMIT, I HAD ANOTHER MOTIVE FOR GETTING ON THE BOARD. THAT WAS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW MANY INDIAN FORCES ARE -- THE TOTAL NUMBER EXCEEDS THE NUMBER ON BOM LAND. WE HAVE A NATIONAL TRIBAL HORSE COALITION, UP TO SIX TRIBES. AREN'T SPRINGS, -- ORANGE SPRINGS, YAKAMAS, NAVAJOS. NAVAJOS HAVE 70,000 HEAD OF HORSES. THERE ARE LIKELY AT LEAST 100,000 HEAD OF HORSES RUNNING LOOSE AT THIS TIME. I GREW UP IN SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. I DROVE DOWN HERE, AND I REALLY HAVE A REAL LOVE FOR THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, NORTHERN NEVADA AND SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE HORSES, THE POPULATION'S MANAGED AT A PROPER LEVEL. MY EXPERIENCE, I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. THANK YOU.
>> OK. WITH THAT, I GUESS WE SHOULD INTRODUCE KATHY, OUR FACILITATOR FOR THE TWO-DAY TIME SPAN. DO YOU HAVE REMARKS?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OK, I WAS TRYING NOT TO HAVE MY BACK TO ANYBODY, BUT -- I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, SOME THAT ARE HERE AND AT SOME ALL OVER THE WEST TO WORK WITH THESE ISSUES ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, FOR YOUR INTEREST, YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR PASSION. WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN WE FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THINGS, ESPECIALLY IF WHAT WE FEEL IS AT ODDS WITH SOMEBODY ELSE'S PASSION, WE CAN HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME HEARING ONE ANOTHER. BUT THAT IS WHAT THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE FOR. FOR YOU TO HEAR, AS THE BOARD DOES, SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE BOARD, WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PROGRAM, TO LISTEN TO THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD RAISES, AND THEN AS IMPORTANTLY TOMORROW, TO SPEND SOME TIME YOURSELF PROVIDING SOME INPUT, PROVIDING SOME IDEAS, PROVIDING SOME FEEDBACK. WE WILL, MORE TOMORROW ABOUT THE WAY WE WILL DO THAT. I SUSPECT MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND IT HAS NOT CHANGED VERY MUCH. BUT WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN. WE'RE HERE TO LEARN, AND WE ARE HERE TO GET SOME VERY IMPORTANT WORK DONE. SO I WILL JUST HELP YOU MOVE ALONG WITH THAT TO THE GREED -- TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU NEED. I AM NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE AGENDA. YOU HAVE PROBABLY PICKED IT UP. FEEL FREE TO IF YOU HAVE NOT. I TRUST YOU CAN READ IT. BASICALLY, IT SAYS WE WILL SPEND A COUPLE OF HOURS THIS AFTERNOON DURING SOME UPDATES FOR THE BOARD. WE WILL SPEND A COUPLE HOURS TOMORROW MORNING DOING SOME UPDATES FOR THE BOARD. IN THE VERY IMPORTANT PART, AT 10:45 A.M., WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU WILL COME TO THE TABLE. YOU WILL ADDRESS THESE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AND YOU DO WANT TO SIGN UP BEFORE 10:00 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE COMMENT. 10:00 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING FOR PROVIDING COMMENTS. THAT IS A DIFFERENCE IN-IN SHEET THAN JUST SIGNING IN FOR TODAY -- THIS IS A DIFFERENT SIGN-IN SHEET THEN DECIDING IN FOUR TODAY. THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR TOMORROW. OH, I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO -- JUST INSIDE THE DOOR, THERE IS A RACK WITH A WONDERFUL SET OF FACT SHEETS. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK THEM UP, PLEASE DO. THERE ARE BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS. THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED HEALTHY RANGE EQUALS HEALTHY WILD HORSES AND BURROS. PUBLIC LAND VERSUS PRIVATE LAND. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IT IS NOT IN MY HAND. A VERY IMPORTANT SET OF FACT SHEETS. I THINK WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN THE PAST, SO PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. OTHER THAN THAT, SOME LITTLE RULES. WE USUALLY START ON TIME, BUT WE DID NOT DO THAT. SO LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH US TODAY. AND WE WILL START ON TIME AFTER TODAY'S BREAK. WE WILL TAKE THE BREAK AT 4:00 P.M. TO 4:15. WE WILL RESTART ON TIME, AND WE WILL START ON TIME TOMORROW MORNING. OTHER THAN THAT, HAVE A TERRIFIC MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ASK OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ED ROBERTSON TO GIVE US SOME REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU, BOYD. KATHY SORT OF STILL MY THUNDER WITH REGARD TO THINKING THE BOARD. I HAVE BEEN IN MY CURRENT POSITION FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND PLANNING. AND I BELIEVE THAT AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE STILL ON THE BOARD THAT WERE HERE WHEN I GOT HERE. I HAVE SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH THEM. [LAUGHTER] AND I AM LOOKING AT ROBIN IN THE AUDIENCEB THEOYD AND GARY -- IN THE AUDIENCE. BOYD AND GARY HAVE BEEN HERE. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WITH THE PROGRAM IN A MODE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CONSTANTLY IMPROVE AND MAKE THINGS BETTER AND WHERE WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MODIFY OUR PROGRAM AND TO MAKE IT BETTER, THIS ADVISORY BOARD SERVES A PHENOMENAL ROLE TO THE BLM, S ENVISIONED BY THE ACT. TO HELP GIVE US A SOUNDING BOARD FOR IDEAS. AND TO HELP PARTICIPATE WITH US IN THE DISCUSSION AND THE DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ISSUES AROUND PROTECTION OF THE HORSES AND BURROS, MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, OTHER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES, ALL THAT COME INTO PLAY AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THE MEMBERS HAVE A WIDE AND VARIED BACKGROUND. ALL OF THEM HAVE A PASSION FOR HORSES AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT THE HORSES ARE FOUND IN AND THE PUBLIC LANDS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE. AND WE ARE A LITTLE BEHIND HIM, BUT I WANT TO, PARTICULARLY AT FIRST, THANK ROBIN FOR HER TIME. SHE SPENT APPROXIMATELY 14 YEARS ON THAT THIS ISSUE OF MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERDS AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. SHE HAS PROVIDED INSTRUMENTAL ADVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO THIS BOARD ON ANIMAL WELFARE. HERD GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP. AND THE ROLE THAT BOYD IS ACTING IN TODAY HELPED US MOVE THE PROGRAM ALONG, HELPED US MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, AND OF COURSE HELPED US EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO ACHIEVE AML, A BETTER BIRD MANAGEMENT AREA, AND INITIATING NEW RESEARCH. AND THEN, IN PARTICULAR, HELPING WITH THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM AND WORKING ON THE NEW STRATEGY. THAT IS, AGAIN, PART OF WHAT I WOULD CALL A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS FOR THE WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM. ROBIN, YOUR SINCERITY, YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONSTANTLY CALL AND MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE PROGRAM HAS REALLY HELPED THIS BOARD BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE OVER YOUR TENURE, AND WE WILL MISS YOU. I DO HAVE A PLAQUE TO PRESENT TO YOU. AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE AFTER WORDS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW IT TO FOLKS RIGHT NOW. IT SAYS SPECIAL APPRECIATION -- [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
>> STAND HERE FOR A SEC. THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IS PROUD TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE, RECOGNIZING AND HONORING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD. FROM THE DURING 9, 1998 -- FEBRUARY 9, 1998 TO JANUARY 8, 2012. THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. ON BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, AND WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> EVERY GOOD LEADER REQUIRES A CO-LEADER. IN THAT ROLE, GARY ZAKOTNIK -- I CAN ALWAYS SAY YOUR NAME JUST WRONG, CAN'T I? GARY IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN ROBIN CANNOT BE THERE, AND HE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT. WE HAVE A SIMILAR PLAQUE TO YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AS CO-CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FROM 2002 TO 2011. IT, TOO, IS A BEAUTIFUL BLACK. THANK YOU, GARY. WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU AS WELL. [APPLAUSE]
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROBIN. SHE HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT BEING ON THE BOARD. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR ROBIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR HAVE HARD ACTS TO FOLLOW. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THINK JANET, WHO CANNOT BE HERE TODAY. JAN THAT -- JANET, AS OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MADE A LOT OF CONTRIBUTIONS. SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PROGRAM STRATEGY. SHE WAS ALWAYS OUT. SHE WOULD GO OUT TO ADOPTIONS AND MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE. SHE WOULD TRY TO BRING A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND HER PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARD AND TO THE BUREAU'S MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. SO WE WILL BE SENDING HER A PLAQUE FOR HER SERVICE ON THE BOARD. I HAD A FEW THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE NEW MEMBERS, AND YOU HAVE NOW MET JUNE, CALLIE, AND BOYD IS A RENEWED MEMBER, AND WE APPRECIATE THESE THREE OF YOU ALL BEING HERE. AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOUR TRANSITION ON TO THIS BOARD BE A GOOD ONE AND TO HELP -- AND I KNOW YOU'LL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS BACK IN KIND. I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE BLM EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE. JOHN, WHO I INTRODUCED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING AS OUR NEW DIVISION CHIEF FOR THE WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM. MARY, WHO IS AT THE TABLE. SHE IS CURRENTLY ACTING AS THE DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF. AND DEAN IS BACK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HELPING US GET SOME GUIDANCE OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND HELPING US WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM AND SOME OTHER THINGS. SALLY SPENCER, THE CHEERFUL SPIRIT. LILLY THOMAS, ALSO IN THE ANIMAL SPIRITS. -- ALSO A CHEERFUL SPIRIT. BEA IS IN THE BACK. RAMONA IS IN THE BACK. DON IS SITTING NEXT TO LILLY, AND HE WORKS IN AT THE PALOMINO VALLEY CENTER. OCH WE DO NOT HAVE JOE OR ALLEN FROM THE NEVADA OFFICE. WE HAVE RAUL, WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE NEVADA STATE PROGRAM. AND HEATHER IS STANDING IN THE BACK AS WELL. I THINK THAT IS OUR FOLKS, IN ADDITION TO KATHY, WHO YOU HAVE ALREADY MET. AMY? THAT IS RIGHT. AMY CAME OVER FROM CALIFORNIA. SO THANK YOU. THE FOREST SERVICE, WHO IS THIS BOARD ALSO WORKS FOR, IS REPRESENTED BY BARRY. RIGHT NOW, BARRY IS HELPING US. EVEN THOUGH HE IS IN THE FOREST SERVICE HEADQUARTERS, HE HAS BEEN DOING SOME SERVICE A FIRST OPERATIONS WITH US, HELPING US WITH OUR BLM PROGRAM TO SEE IF WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. AND HELPING WHILE ZACH IS OUT WEST ON THE TEL. BARRY AND TOM WENT OUT TO THE FACILITY AT CARSON CITY WITH US TODAY. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS I WANT TO MAKE. ONE IS WITH REGARD TO THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT ON OUR WEB PAGE, THAT WAS A CHALLENGE THAT BOB ABBEY GAVE US, AND IT IS ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING THAT TIM MIGHT BE ASKING, TO FIND WAYS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND THE MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM. WE HAD NUMEROUS SUBMISSIONS FROM OUR FIELD OFFICES COMMENTS AND SALLY AND JOHN WILL BE TALKING TO YOU A LITTLE LATER TODAY ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE FUNDING THROUGH THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE THE RANGE CONDITIONS AND ANIMAL HEALTH. I WILL NOT GO INTO THAT ANY MORE THAN THAT. LONG-TERM HOLDING PASTURE TOUR. THERE WILL BE A TOUR JUNE 9. YOU HAVE TO CONTACT US BY JUNE 1 IF YOU WANT TO GO. THAT IS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 9. EAST OF WICHITA, KANSAS, ABOUT 30 MILES IN EL DORADO, AS WE SAY IN THE SOUTH. IT WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THESE HORSES IN THEIR SETTINGS AND ON SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND. BY JUNE 1, YOU SHOULD CALL 866- 468-7826, AND I AM SURE THIS IS POSTED. VISITORS WILL BE SHUTTLED BY THE BLM FROM EL DORADO. TOMORROW MORNING FIRST THING, THERE WILL BE ABOUT A 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION ON SAGE GRASS. THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DETERMINED IN 2010 AND THAT THE GREATER SAGE GRASS WAS WARRANTED FOR LISTING. IT HAS A RAIN SCHACHT'S OF AN AREA BETWEEN OREGON, NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, ALL THE WAY BACK EAST TO THE DAKOTAS -- IT HAS A RANGE OF THAT AREA. THE BIRD IS LISTED, THEN IT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON EVERYTHING THAT WE DO ON PUBLIC LANDS. AND WE ARE IN THE PLANNING EFFORT WITH THE FOREST SERVICE -- WE'RE ENGAGED IN THE PLANNING EFFORT WITH THE FOREST SERVICE ON ONE OF THE MAJOR THREATS THAT THE SAGE GROUSE HAS, A LACK OF ADEQUATE, REGULATORY MECHANISMS. I'M SURE YOU'LL GET INTO THAT TOMORROW. FOR US, THAT MEANS OUR LAND USE PLANS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH OF A FOUNDATION OF PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT THE BIRD DOES NOT NEED TO BE LISTED. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A THREE-YEAR, TWO AND A HALF YEAR PLANNING EFFORT ACROSS THE RANGE. EVERY STATE OF BLM IN THAT RANGE IS ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. YOU WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN SAGE GROUSE HABITAT AND A WILD HORSE AND BURRO HABITAT. THAT TESTING COULD ALSO AFFECT BIRD MANAGEMENT AREAS. -- THAT LISTING COULD ALSO AFFECT BIRD MANAGEMENT AREAS. I WILL CONCLUDE MY WELCOME IN LEADERSHIP REMARKS. I DO APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMING OUT TODAY AND BEING HERE TODAY AND TOMORROW. I LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BOARD. I THINK WE CAN INTRODUCE RAUL. RAUL MORALES. YO UMAY -- YOU MAY NOT WANT TO SIT WITHOUR BACK TO FOLKS -- WITH YOUR BACK TO FOLKS, EITHER. KATHIE HAS LEARNED HOW TO GET THINGS GOING. OK. RAUL MORALES IS THE DEPUTY STATE DIRECTOR FOR RESOURCES --
>> SORRY TO THE FOLKS IN THE BACK. IT IS WEIRD HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. I WILL LOOK BOTH WAYS. MY NAME IS RAUL. I AM THE DEPUTY STATE DIRECTOR OUT OF THE NEVADA STATE OFFICE. I HAVE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. PRIOR TO COMING TO NEVADA, I WORKED WITH JOE AND ED. PRIOR TO THAT, MY WORK IN GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO, WHERE I GOT TO WORK WITH A WILD HORSE HERD. SINCE COMING TO NEVADA AND SEEING THE NUMBER OF FORCES HERE, IT IS A DIFFERENCE. -- OF HORSES HERE, IT IS A DIFFERENCE. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES THE JOB WOULD PRESENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS PROGRAM IS JUST ONE OF THEM, ALONG WITH SAGE GROUSE, DESERT TOURISTS, AND MANY OTHERS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE TRY TO RESOLVE ISSUES ON PUBLIC LAND. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR STATE DIRECTOR WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. SHE IS AT A MEETING IN LAS VEGAS. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO RENO, NEV.. FOR THE WORK YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON. WE'RE GLAD YOU HAD A GREAT FIELD TRIP THIS MORNING. I DID NOT KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, BUT THUNDERSTORMS WERE BEGINNING TO SHOW UP. WE HAVE HAS A GREAT WEATHER THE PAST FEW DAYS. ONE THING I RECOGNIZE IN PREPARING FOR MY REMARKS THIS MORNING -- I LOOK BACK AT MY CAREER, WHICH SPANS THE EARLY 1980'S. I REMEMBER GOING OUT ON PUBLIC LAND AND BEING ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE OUT ON PUBLIC LAND, BEING A NOBODY, HEARING NOTHING. I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DO DOCUMENTS ON A VARIETY OF USES OF PUBLIC LANDS AND NEVER HEAR A PEEP OUT OF ANYBODY. TODAY, IT HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED. TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, WHETHER IT IS GIS, GOOGLE, OR THE BLOG SITES WE HAVE, ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS PUBLIC LAND ACTIONS FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR COUCH. WE -- THAT THIS KIND OF THE WAY TECHNOLOGY IS. PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN COMMENT ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING. -- ON WHAT WE ARE DOING. I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN VOLUNTEERING TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. IT IS A VERY PASSIONATE PROGRAM. WE NEED YOUR HELP FOR BOTH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE BLM IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY IN MANAGING THIS WILD HORSE & BURRO PROGRAM. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO THE BLM. THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE ON WILD HORSE & BURROS BEING ON PUBLIC LAND. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE VALUABLE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WELCOME TO RENO, NEVADA. I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I AM BOTH ED AND JOE ROLLED INTO ONE. WE HAVE 10 HIGHLY MOTIVATED, VERY PROFESSIONAL, HARD-WORKING WILD HORSE & BURRO SPECIALISTS ACROSS THE STATE. OUR FOLKS WERE CARGILL AROUND -- OUR FOLKS WORK HARD YEAR ROUND. IN ORDER FOR US TO BEST MANAGE OUR WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACROSS NEVADA. NEVADA HAS ABOUT $8.5 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER 10% OF THE BUDGET. WE HAVE 83 HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 45% OF THE BUREAU'S AREA IN THE WESTERN STATES. STATEWIDE, OUR APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT LEVEL FOR HORSES AND BURROS IS 12,688 ANIMALS. PRIOR TO THIS SPRING, WE ESTIMATE WE HAD 22 -- THERE IS ABOUT 58 OF 83 MALES OVER AML. 70% OF THOSE ARE OVER THE HIGH END OF AML IN THE STATE. TO DATE, WE HAVE COMPLETED SIX GATHERS FOR HORSES AND BURROS. WE HAVE THREE MORE SCHEDULED FOR THIS SUMMER. AS MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE, NEV. AS WAS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE DROUGHT -- NEVADA AS WELL AS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE DROUGHT. WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ACTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE ON PUBLIC LAND THAT WILL AFFECT BOTH LIVESTOCK AND POTENTIALLY WILD HORSES AND BURROS. 52% OF OUR STATE IS CONSIDERED IN THE SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITION THAT THIS POINT. -- AT THIS POINT. CONTINUE TO LOOK OF ALL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US WHEN WE CONDUCT OUR GATHERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE LEGAL CHALLENGES. THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM HERE DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY AND THE LARGE SUITE OF TOOLS WE WILL NEED TO CONDUCT SUCCESSFUL GATHERS AND TO MANAGE A HERD APPROPRIATELY. THOSE WERE MY REMARKS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, RAUL. GIVEN THE SITUATION WE HAVE WITH DROUGHT THROUGHOUT THE WEST, SPECIFICALLY IN NEVADA, WHAT TYPES OF IMPACTS D.C. TO THE WILD -- IMPACTS DO YOU SEE TO THE WILD HORSES AND BURROS?
>> ONE OF OUR HERDS -- WE HAVE AREAS WHERE COURSES ARE STARTING TO SEE -=-- WHERE HORSE ARE STARTING TO GET DEPRIVED OF WATER. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THE VEGETATION IS IN TOUGH SHAPE. WE ARE DOING REGULAR MONITORING OF THE HEALTH OF THE RANGE AS WELL AS THE HORSE. WE ARE PRAYING FOR MOISTURE. WE'RE ON TOP OF IT AS FAR AS IDENTIFYING SOME HERDS IN SOME AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE IN THE EARLY -- ONES THAT NEED TO BE WATCHED. WE DID NOT WANT THOSE HORSES TO GET INTO TOUGH SHAPE. IF WE DO HAVE TO DO IS GATHER, THEY CAN AT LEAST WITHSTAND THE PRESSURES OF THE GATHER.
>> THAT IS THE SAME HERD THAT HAD AN EMERGENCY GATHERED TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO?
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> [NO AUDIO]
>> JACKSON MOUNTAIN? HEATHER, DO YOU KNOW? [NO AUDIO]
>> RAUL, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?
>> OUT OF ABOUT 600 TO 700 ANIMALS, MAYBE 200 ARE WHAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT. WITHOUT MORE MOISTURE, THE REST OF THE AREA COULD GET IN BAD SHAPE, TOO. WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR OR FIVE OTHER POTENTIAL HEARD AREAS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR RADAR SCREENS.
>> [NO AUDIO]
>> OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE IS NO WATER IN THE AREA THAT THE HORSES ARE STAYING AROUND, THAT IS A BIG THING. WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY BRINGING IN WATER, TRUCKING IN WATER TO THOSE AREAS. IF HORSES HAVE NO FEED --
>> [NO AUDIO]
>> RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT IS IN THE THREE'S TO FOUR'S AT THIS POINT. WE DO NOT WANTED TO GET MUCH WORSE. THEN THE ANIMALS WILL GET INTO A WEAKENED STATE. THOSE SPECIFICS WILL PICK UP AS WE -- AS LILI TALKS TO US ABOUT THE GATHERS.
>> WHAT IS THE -- ARE YOU INCREASE IN THE INTERVAL OF INSPECTION AS FAR AS MONITORING CONDITIONS OF THE HORSES? ARE YOU MAKING THE INTERVAL OF THE INSPECTION -- IS THAT GETTING SHORTER AS THE -- I WAS PART OF A REVIEW OF SOME HORSES IN UTAH. LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS. THEY WERE ONLY MONITORING EVERY TWO WEEKS. THEY CHANGED THAT TO GO OUT EVERY THREE OR FOUR DAYS AS THE WATER SUPPLY GOT LESS, SO THEY WOULD BE THERE A LITTLE SOONER AND COULD MAKE A DECISION QUICKER IF WATER DEPRIVATION BECAME AN ISSUE.
>> WE ARE OUT THERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IN JACKSON MOUNTAIN, IF NOT MORE OFTEN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST ACTION IS TO TAKE.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. OF THOSE HMA'S YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND MONITORING, ARE ANY OF THOSE ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR? OR WILL THEY OBVIOUSLY DID AS EMERGENCY GATHERS -- WILL THEY ALL BE SLATED AS EMERGENCY GATHERS?
>> JACKSON MOUNTAIN WAS SET FOR JULY. THE OTHERS WERE POTENTIALLY EMERGENCY. WE ARE SEEKING COMMENTS ON THE EA FOR THE GATHER. THAT JUST WENT OUT LAST WEEK, THURSDAY, APRIL 19. THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAUL. OK. AS EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD READ THE MINUTES -- HAS EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD READ THE MINUTES? DO WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? NO QUESTIONS? THOSE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED -- CERTIFIED AND ACCEPTED. OK. NEXT ON THE LIST WILL BE AN UPDATE, A PROGRAM OF DAY FROM OUR -- PROGRAM UPDATE FROM OUR LEAD, JOAN GUILFOYLE.
>> IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH? ALL RIGHT. THANKS, BOYD. I WILL PUT THIS NEWS RELEASE ON THE BACK TABLE. IT'S THE ONLY COPY I THINK WE HAVE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. I WILL REPEAT WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID. WELCOME, CALLIE, JUNE, AND BOYD. THANK YOU, ROBIN AND GARY. THANKYOU, BOYD -- THANK YOU, BOYD, FOR OFFERING TO BE THE INTERIM CHAIR DURING THIS MEETING. WE APPRECIATE THAT. ONCE ROBIN'S TERM WAS UP AND SHE HAD BEEN CHAIR FOR SO LONG, WE REALIZE WE HAD NOT HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ELECT A NEW CHAIR FOR 13 OR 14 YEARS. WE WILL ADDRESS THAT TOMORROW ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH ME IN THE STATE FOR HELPING PUT THIS MEETING TOGETHER. AND THESE GREAT BOOKS. GOOD JOB. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AND HAVE THE STAFF SHARE FROM SOME OF THEM WILL BE COMING UP AS WELL. AMONG THEM ARE FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS -- FOLLOW-UP ITEMS TO OUR LAST MEETING. SOME ARE CHANGES WITHIN THE PROGRAM, EITHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. THERE ARE SOME SUCCESSES THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I FEEL WE HAVE HAD, AND ALSO SOME CHALLENGES. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SECOND TAB IN YOUR BOOKS. THIS WILL GO TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MADE TO US AT THE OCTOBER MEETING. THIS DOCUMENT IS POSTED ON THE WEB. IT IS A WORD DOCUMENT. IT WOULD NOT HAVE DONE VERY WELL BEING PROJECTED. IT IS IN THE BOOK AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. WE DID BRING A SPARE BUT FOR FOLKS WHO DID NOT PRINT EVERYTHING OUT. WE ARE TRYING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW MUCH WE ARE PRINTING. SO, THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MADE TO US. WHAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO FIRST, OF THE FIRST FIVE ON THIS LIST, WHICH ARE ALL ABOUT EITHER BLM WORKING GROUPS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE SOME OF YOU ASSIST US WITH OR AN ADVISORY BOARD WORKING GROUP THAT YOU HAVE FORMED. THOSE ARE THE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF DEFINITIONS FOR YOU ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS. FOR THAT, I'M GOING TO THROW YOU TO TAB 3. GO BACK TO THE THIRD YELLOW PIECE OF PAPER, WHERE YOU WILL FIND A DOCUMENT THAT IS CALLED THE GUIDELINES REGARDING WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS' PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL MEETINGS. TAB 3, YELLOW. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF YELLOW INSERTS. THIS IS BEHIND THE THIRD YELLOW INSERT. I WANT TO WALK YOU THRU THE TWO KINDS OF GROUPS AND THEN GO BACK TO WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCEPTED FOR THOSE. IS EVERYBODY WITH ME? OK. SO, THE FIRST KIND OF GROUP THAT IS LISTED HERE -- AND WE WENT TO PROPER REGULATIONS TO GET THIS CLARIFIED -- IS AN ADVISORY BOARD FORMED A WORKING GROUP. THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE FORMED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD. THE MEMBERSHIP IS COMPRISED COMPLETELY AND ONLY OF BOARD MEMBERS, ACTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. THE BLM WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION TO U.S. YOUR REQUEST ON WHENEVER THE TOPIC IS THAT WORKING GROUP IS GOING TO WORK ON. THE BLM DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IT IS STRICTLY A BOARD FORMED A GROUP -- A BOARD-FORMED GROUP. WHEN THAT 4-4 WORKING GROUP IS DONE DISCUSSING THE ISSUE, WHAT EVER IT IS, THE REPORT THOSE RESULTS BACK TO THE BOARD. THE BOARD CAN DECIDE AS A WHOLE IF YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND SOMETHING TO US. THAT IS ONE KIND OF WORKING GROUP. AS YOU CAN TALK THE BOTTOM OF THIS -- YOU WARMED. YOU RECOMMENDED TWO DIFFERENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR GROUPS. ONE TO EVALUATE PROTOCOL FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUNTEERS. THIS IS RIGHT ABOVE THE #TWO. AND A WORKER TO EXPAND THE TOOLBOX FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION AND ALL ALTERNATIVE MODES OF GROWTH FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION. WITHOUT JUMPING AROUND TO MUCH, WE HAVE ACCEPTED BOTH OF THOSE. WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE MEMBERSHIPS THAT HE RECOMMENDED, ABSENT IF SOMEONE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS WERE ACCEPTED. THE SECOND AND A GROUP HERE IS THE BLM FORMED GROUP -- FOR M. M -- BLM-FORMED WORKING GROUP. THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE FORMED BY US AT THE BLM. WE REQUEST EXTERNAL EXPERTS TO SERVE ON THOSE GROUPS TO HELP US. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS WHICH OF YOU WILL BE ON THAT. THE EXTERNAL EXPERTS -- AND THIS IS IMPORTANT -- YOU CAN MEET WITH THE BLM, FOR GROUPS TO PRESENT YOUR INDEPENDENT VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICIPATE AS INDIVIDUALS, AND CONTRIBUTE INDEPENDENT OPINIONS ON THE ISSUES AND MATERIALS OF THE QUESTIONS OF THE BLM FOR GROUP -- FORM GROUP. WE DO NOT COLLABORATE WITH THE BLM. YOU WILL SERVE AS INDIVIDUALS, GIVING YOUR EXPORTED RICE TO US. YOU DO NOT HELP US DECIDE WHAT TO DO WHEN THE ISSUES.
>> AT THE OCTOBER MEETING, THERE ARE THREE SETS OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS THAT YOU RECOMMENDED. AGAIN, WE HAVE ACCEPTED ALL OF THEM. LET ME FINISH A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT GROUP. THE BLM GROUP, WE FORMER OUR FINDINGS AND WE REPORT THEM TO YOU, THE BOARD. IT DOES MAKE SENSE. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT LYNN NEARLY -- LINEAR LY. WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE THREE PEOPLE TO BE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM. ONE PERSON TO BE ON THE BLM RESEARCH COMMITTEE. AND ONE PERSON TO WORK WITH US ON OUR PROGRAM STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION. YOU CAN SEE THOSE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS PAGE. THAT IS WHAT YOU-4 IS THE OCTOBER -- THAT IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOR IN OCTOBER. THAT IS WHAT WE AGREE WITH. WE MET IN OCTOBER. IT IS APRIL. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. WE DID NOT OFFICIALLY APPROVE THIS. THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE NUANCES, THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING. WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE MEETING, WE WILL GIVE YOU OUR ANSWERS. IT ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT WITHIN A MONTH. SO THAT NO GROUP IS LEFT HANGING, WANTING TO HELP, CANNOT HELP, BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFICIAL. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE DECIDED TO SHIFT IS THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. USUALLY, WE TAKE THEM -- THE DRAFT GET OUT, BUT YOU DO NOT REALLY SEE THE DRAFT UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS KIND OF A LONG TIME TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS SAID. WE ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING THE DRAFT MINUTES OUT TO YOU FOR REVIEWING. WE STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THEM OFFICIALLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, LIKE WE JUST DID, BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND GET THAT BUSINESS TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU GO BACK TO HAVE TO, I WILL RUN THROUGH WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE -- BACK TO TAB 2, I WILL RUN THROUGH WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. THE FIRST ONE IS DR, BRAY,. 00 THE FIRST ONE IS DR. BRAY -- THE FIRST ONE IS DR. BRAY. THE SECOND ONE WAS NOT ACCEPTED. SHE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. NO. 3 WAS DR. BRAY AND TIM HARVEY. THAT WAS ACCEPTED. ROBBIN -- ROBIN WAS ON THE LIST, BUT SHE CAN NO LONGER SERVE BECAUSE SHE IS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. DR. BRAY AND DR. SPRATLING AS MEMBERS OF AN ADVISORY-FORMED GROUP FOR THE EXPANDING THE TOOLBOX FOR POPULATION GROWTH DETECTION -- DEPRESSION . WE HAD LAST BEEN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP -- WE HAVE ASKED BEEN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP. -- ASKED DEAN TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP. THE FIFTH GROUP, TO EVALUATE PROTOCOL FOR OPTIMIZING VOLUNTEERS, THE PROPOSED PEOPLE MERE JULIE GLEASON, TIM HARVEY, AND PAUL DURBIN. CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?
>> THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE SPOTS WHERE WE NEED A PRE PLACEHOLDER -- NEED A PLACE HOLDER TOMORROW. PERHAPS WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WORKING GROUPS.
>> OK. I WILL MAKE NOTE NOW THAT I WILL HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU WITH SOME EXTERNAL EXPERTS A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE MEETING, FOR ANOTHER BLM-FORMED GROUP.
>> BARRING THOSE TOP FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH SIX THROUGH NINE OR IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ THEM. BASICALLY, THEY HAVE ALL , FOR THE MOST PART, BEEN EXPECTED. WOULD YOU LET ME TO READ THROUGH THEM? NO. 6 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED PROMOTING THE ACCELERATION OF THE USE OF SPACE BACKS. THAT WAS EXPECTED. WE ARE DOING THAT AGGRESSIVELY -- THAT WAS ACCEPTED. WE'RE DOING THAT AGGRESSIVELY. THERE IS SOME INFORMATION FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES. NO. 7 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED WE POST THE ONGOING STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY. WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION AND ONGOING STATUS REPORTS WILL BE PERIODICALLY POSTED ON THE WEB SITE. IF THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE. NO. 8 WAS THAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED -- THE LANGUAGE WITH REGARD TO WHICH ANIMALS ARE SOLD, THEIR CARE, THEIR SUSTENANCE -- LOCAL AND MOMENT CONTROL IS ALREADY CONTACTED. THE BLM EXCEPT THE FIRST PART. YOU CAN READ HERE THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED. I THINK SUNNI WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HER UPDATE ABOUT ADOPTIONS AND SALES. -- I THINK SALLY WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HER UPDATE ABOUT ADOPTIONS AND SALES. WE DID NOT ACCEPT THE SECOND RAPINE NATION -- THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION ABOUT LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL. WE DO NOT FEEL WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON THAT ADDITIONAL WORK LOAD. WE WOULD SAY THAT THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERESTED NONPROFIT TO LOOK INTO THEMSELVES. IT COULD BE A VALUABLE SERVICE. IT IS JUST NOT SENDING THE BLM HAS CAPACITY TO DO. -- NOT SOMETHING THE BLM HAS CAPACITY TO DO. WE ACCEPTED NO. 9. LETTERS WERE SENT OUT IN JANUARY. I'M NOT SURE. IT IS DONE. THAT IS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? OK. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED POINT OUT TO YOU THAT I WANT TO CREDIT RAMONA FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ON. YOU'LL NOTICE A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS. YOUR CURRENT CONTACT LIST IS THERE. YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF EACH OTHER. WE WILL START ADDING NEWS RELEASES. THE NEWS RELEASES THAT CAME OUT FROM THE LAST MEETING TO THIS ONE WILL START BEING ADDED IN. YOU MIGHT BE AWARE OF THEM. IN CASE YOU ARE NOT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE. THE FACT SHEETS -- WE WILL START PUTTING THOSE IN YOUR BOOK. THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO DO SOME MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE BOARD. YOU'LL SEE A SHIFT FOR THAT KIND OF THING. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE IN THE BOOK, PLEASE LET US KNOW. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THINGS IN GENERAL. AS HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR, THIS IS A BIG TIME OF TRANSITION FOR THE BOARD. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A NEW CHAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK UP OUT TO A POINT THE CHAIR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR SO LONG. -- HOW TO APPOINT A CHAIR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR SO LONG. AS YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, THREE MEMBERS -- NEW MEMBERS COME IN. THIS YEAR WE HAVE, AS OF MARCH, JUNE, COWLEYALLIE, AND BOYD. NEXT YEAR, THE WILD BUT POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY PAUL, THE HUMANE ADVOCATE POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY TIM, AND THE LIVESTOCK POSITION, WHICH IS HELD BY GARY -- THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WILL BE UP IN MARCH OF 2013. THE REGISTER NOTICE WILL BE CAUGHT IN JUNE -- THE REGISTER NOTICE WILL GO OUT IN JUNE. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE BOARD. I AM REALLY PLEASED TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND TO HAVE YOU ON HERE. I THINK YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC REALM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE LOOK TO YOU TO HELP RESOLVE, CONSULT WITH EACH OTHER RESPECTFULLY, AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THINGS. COME UP WITH NEW PATHWAYS FORWARD. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GOOD BLEND OF PERSPECTIVES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. I THINK, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOUR JOB IS TO HELP US NAVIGATE AND FIND OUR WAY TOWARD COMMON GROUND AMONG DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS AND HELP RESOLVE THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT ISSUE. IT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER- ONE LAND MANAGEMENT, A HUMAN- DIMENSION ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON AND FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME. IT IS NOT EASY. I AM SURE YOU CAN SAY THAT MORE IN SPADES AND I CAN. INTERNALLY, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM. WE ARE DOING SOME TEMPORARY SHIFTS, GIVING PEOPLE DIFFERENT JOBS AND GETTING PEOPLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. ZACK IS OUT DOING A DETAIL. WE HAVE SOMEONE COMING IN FROM FOREST SERVICE TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK TO HELP US OUT. WE HAVE AN OUTREACH POSITION THAT WE JUST GOT APPLICANTS FOR, TO DO WILD HORSE & BURRO COMMUNICATION ON A HOLISTIC BASIS. I WILL FILL THAT THE TELL PRETTY SOON. ONCE THAT FOUR MONTHS IS UP, WE WILL LOOK AT MAKING THAT POSITION PERMANENT. WE WANT TO CONCLUDE WHAT THE JOB SHOULD BE BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE POSITION WILL SAY. WE HAVE A VACANCY FOR THE RESEARCH TEAM LEAD AND A POPULATION CENSUS COORDINATOR LEAD. I WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT IS. I DO NOT ACTUALLY KNOW.
>> WHERE IS THE VACANCY PROCESS WITH THAT? WE HAVE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE ARE REFUTED THEM --
>> WE HAVE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE ARE REVIEWING THEM. WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOMEONE IN ON AN INTERIM BASIS TO HELP, AS THEIR PROGRAM GETS MORE SOLID AND CLEAR, DO WE NEED A FULL- TIME COORDINATOR, IT IS A PART- TIME POSITION. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS. POTENTIALLY WORKING WITH A DOCTORATE UC-DAVIS TO DEVELOP THESE ASSESSMENT TOOL SO WE WILL BE USING. WE ALSO, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, LIKE EVERY OTHER PROGRAM THE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS, HAVING TO DO MORE WITH LESS. WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR POSITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HALFTIME, THREE QUARTER TIME SHARE, ON OTHER PEOPLE. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT BEING SHIFTED TO A FULL-TIME POSITION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LOOKING AT IF WE SHOULD REORGANIZE OUR STAFF. KATHYIE HAS BEEN HELPING US LOOK AT THAT. THAT IS PART OF HER EXPERTISE. I THING THAT IS IMPORTANT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ED MENTIONED THE DIRECTORS CHALLENGE. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER TO SAUDI -- SALLY AND JOHN A. MORE EXCLAMATION -- A MORE FULL EXPLANATION.
>> IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. WE HAD ON THIS MORNING. THE DIRECTOR'S CHALLENGE -- THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEVELOP CITIZENS AND CLIENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE BLM AND STAKEHOLDER KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCE CONDITIONS ON PUBLIC LAND. ROBERT -- PROJECTS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT FUNDING OF UP TO 20 PART THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR FIELD OFFICES. IF SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION -- UP TO $25,000 OR FIELD OFFICES, IF SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THERE WERE 12 PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. ONE PROPOSAL FROM CALIFORNIA, FOUR PROPOSALS FROM COLORADO, AND SEVEN PROPOSALS FROM NEVADA. 18 OF BLM STAFF -- A TEAM OF BLM STAFF AND EXPERTS PROPOSED BID -- REVIEW THE PROPOSALS. IT INCLUDED INSTALLING INTERBEDDED KIOSKS -- INTERPRETED KIOSKS TO NOT FEED THE BOROUGH'S -- BURROS. ALL OF THE PROPOSALS WERE FUNDED. IT WAS A TOTAL OF $272,000. IT WAS GREAT. EVERY PROPOSAL WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDED. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. DID I MISS ANYTHING? OK. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO JOHN WILSON. HE IS FROM THE BLM. HE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HIS DIRECTOR'S CHALLENGE PROJECT.
>> HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING THIS AFTERNOON. I HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT WE WILL GET GOING. CAN YOU SEE THE SCREEN AT ALL?
>> YES.
>> I WILL PRESENT -- I WILL PRESENT THE OVERVIEW OF THIS ABETTED PROPOSAL -- OF THIS AMENDED PROPOSAL. I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW FOR THE NEED OF THE PROPOSAL. I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL PROJECT THAT THIS IS A SUBSET OF. I WILL PRESENT THE DETAILS OF THE SUBMITTED DIRECTOR POSTULANT PROPOSAL. YOU CAN -- DIRECTOR'S PROPOSAL. YOU CAN SKIP THIS SLIDE. YOU CAN GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE. I JUST DID THAT REALLY QUICK. SORRY. I DID NOT KNOW I WOULD NOT HAVE CONTROL. GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT. THE NAME OF THE PROJECT IS -- . NEXT. IS APPROXIMATELY 105 ACRE EXPOSURE FUNDS. -- DEFENSE -- IT IS APPROXIMATELY 105 ACRES OF EXPOSED FENCE. CAN YOU BRING UP THE EIGHT CHAIRMEN MAP-- BRING UP THE HMA MAP? THERE ARE 32,000 ACRES OF DIRECT TREATMENT. THE BRIGHT GREEN IS THE BOULTON CANYON EXPOSURE -- DALTON CANYON EXPOSURE FENCE. YOU CAN SEE THE TREE ENCROACHMENT, THE PINON JUNIPER TREES. THEN THERE IS A WET MEADOW. THERE IS A PERENNIAL STREAMS THAT FEED THE BOTTOM THAT FLOWS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP. THERE ARE SEVERAL SPRINGS. NEXT. IF YOU CLICK BACK , IT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE TEXT. OK. I WILL JUST TALK THIS THROUGH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VEGETATION MONITORING TRANSAXLE AND GRAEME MONITORING -- TRANSACTS ECTS AND GROUND MONITORING. WE USED TO HAVE SOME SAGE GROUSE HERE. THE VEGETATION IS VERY DEGRADED. WE'RE GOING TO EXCLUDE FLOOD STOCK FOR THREE YEARS. -- EXCLUDE LIVESTOCK FOR THREE YEARS. WE WOULD USE SOME BRUSH TO PROTECT THE WATER SOURCES. THEY WILL TAKE FIVE TO 10 YEARS TO GET COVERED. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE DOWN THE FENCE. TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF FURTHER DEGRADATION, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAUSES. THIS LEADS TO VEGETATION CHANGES. THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO THIS DEGRADATION. THE PINON JUNIPER -- PINYON/JUNIPER IS ENCROACHING . THERE ARE LIVESTOCK BREEDING IMPACTS. -- THE WILD HORSE IS ABOUT 39% OVER AML IN THISM HMA -- IN THIS HMA. HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES HAVE LED TO VEGETATION CHANGES. THERE IS RABBITBRUSH THAT HAS INVADED THE MEADOW. CLICK ON RABBITBRUSH. THIS IS MONOTYPIC STANDS OF RABBITBRUSH. IT SHOULD BE ALL GRASS. THE THREE AND A HALF MILE COMPLEX HAS A LOT OF THIS GOING ON. THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS CHANGING FROM A WET MEADOW TO A DRY MEADOW. EVENTUALLY, RABBITBRUSH AND SAGEBRUSH WILL MEAN INCOME -- WILL MEAN THE METAL WAS COMPLETELY GONE OVER TIME. -- THE MEADOW IS COMPLETELY GONE OVER TIME. THE WET MEADOW -- CLICK ON DRY PLEASE. SO, THE GREENER PHOTOS WERE TAKING IN AUGUST, JUST AFTER THE COWS WERE PUSHED BEYOND. THE SLIDE UP TO THE TOP LEFT WAS TAKEN IN OCTOBER. THERE IS BEEN NO GROWTH RECOVERY OF THE SHRUBS ARE ENCROACHING. YOU HAVE A LOT OF -- IT IS IN BAD SHAPE. SO, THE LARGER PROJECT THAT WAS JUST ENDED APRIL 4, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 4000 COMMONS. THE LARGER PROJECT INCLUDES WILD HORSE REMOVAL. WE HAVE PROPOSED DEBATE AND WATER TRAPPING AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE PERMIT T -- BERMITTEE -- WE HAVE PROPOSED A BAIT AND WATER TRAPPING AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE PERMITTEE. WE WILL CONDUCT A TOUR FOR COMMENT TERSE -- COMMENTERS IN MAY. THE COMMENTS ARE AGAINST HORSE REMOVAL, AGAINST BAIT AND WATER TRAPPING BY THE PERMITTEE. I DEVELOPED THIS WITHIN THE ESTABLISH AML AND THE -- ESTABLISHED AML AND ESTABLISHED GRAZING PERMIT, WHICH WILL BE UP IN THE A COUPLE OF YEARS. -- UP IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAVE CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE DIRECTOR'S CHALLENGE PROPOSAL. SO FAR, A LOT OF THEM ARE TIED INTO THE LARGER PROJECT. THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE HAS EXPERTISE IN BUILDING FENCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE PARTNERS FOR CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT IS A FAIRLY NEW ORGANIZATION. THEY HAVE ESTABLISH AN AND CONDUCTED -- ESTABLISH BANK THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED AND CONDUCTED BASELINE TRANSECTS. WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS BEING ACHIEVED. THERE'S ALSO THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE. THEY HAVE HELPED WITH DALTON CANYON. WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPINION/JUNIPER -- PIN YON/JUINPER AND -- PINYON/JUNIPER AND WHAT IS NOT? WE'LL INCREASE THE SAGE GROUSE MONITORING TO SEE THE RESPONSE TO TREATMENTS. THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE OVERALL PROJECT AS WELL OVER TIME. GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE NEXT ONE. ARS ARE HELPING WITH GROUND WATER MONITORING WELLS. THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IS TO GATHER BASELINE DATA. THAT WILL HELP ASSESS WHAT THE DATA MEANS OVER TIME. SMITH CREEK RANCH -- IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING, THEY CAN HELP WITH THINGS, ADMINISTRATING VOLUNTEERS TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE WILD HORSE ADVOCACY GROUPS. WE WOULD NOT -- WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT. PART OF THIS WILL BE A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. NEXT, PLEASE. SO, THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN WILL BE FOR PROMOTING WEEKEND EVENTS TO CONSTRUCT INCLOSURE AND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADDITIONAL PARTNERS BY UTILIZING THE FOLLOWING. WE'LL USE MEDIA RELEASES, SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES INVITING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOGO CONTEST THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED AND THE WINNING LOGO WILL BE DISPLAYED ON VOLUNTEER SHIRTS. AND IMITATIONS TO VOLUNTEERS WILL BE THOSE TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN THOSE PROGRAMS. OFFICIAL AID HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HELPING OUT WITH WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. THE RECRUITMENT WILL BE ADVERTISED ON VOLUNTEER DOCTOR OF -- VOLUNTEER.GOV. ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
>> WHAT KIND OF FENCE DO YOU ANTICIPATE USING?
>> IT IS A STANDARD FOR DOC TO- WIRE, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY -- STANDARD FOUR-WIRE, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY. IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE REINFORCED CORNERS. FENCING IS NOT MY FORTE. ONCE WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF MATERIALS WE MIGHT NEED. PIPER WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD -- PIPELINE WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IT WOULD BEOUT -- BE OUT OF TOUCH. THE LARGER PROJECT, ABOUT HALF OF THOUSE ACRES ARE TOO ENHANCED FOR LALE TROUSE -- FOR SAGE GROUSE. THEY CAN JUMP OVER, THE DEER.
>> YOU SAID IT IS FOR MOSS TO 5 MILES LONG -- 4 MILES TO 5 MILES LONG. HOW LONG IS IT?
>> YOU HAVE TO GO OUT A LITTLE FARTHER. WHEN SAGE GROUSE FLY INTO AN AREA, YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TO CRASH INTO THE FENCE. IF THEY GET CRUSHED BY PREDATORS, THEY LIKE THE EDGES OF THE MEADOWS, WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF COVER. WE HAVE SOME CULTURAL CONCERNS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WICKED OF THE FENCE WOULD PROBABLY BE HALF A MILE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR LESS.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY AREAS YOU'RE LYING TO PIPE WATER ACCESS OUT? -- YOU ARE GOING TO PIPE WATER ACCESS OUT? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THREE TROUGHS FOR ACCESS IN ONE AREA OR SPREAD THEM OUT?
>> WE WILL LOOK AT THAT. THERE IS A PERENNIAL CREEK. IT IS THE UPSTREAM SIDE. THERE IS PLENTY OF WATER RUNNING IN. BECAUSE OF THE DEGRADATION, THERE IS DOWN CUTTING. THERE IS MORE WATER RUNNING OF THE WAY THROUGH. IT RUNS THROUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE AND DOWN INTO A RESERVOIR. I WILL CONTINUE TO CONSULT PEOPLE THAT NO MORE THAN NINE AND SEE IF WE NEED -- WE PROPOSED TO PUT IN A COUPLE OF DROPS AND PIPELINE OUTSIDE IF NEEDED FOR THE HORSES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU A VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON APPLYING AND GETTING THE MONEY. ED ALREADY MENTIONED A LONG-TERM HOLDING TOUR ON JUNE 9. I WILL MENTION THAT I UNDERSTAND WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR BUSLOADS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING. IF YOU WANT TO COME, YOU BETTER GET YOUR NAME IN SOON. THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IS THE SUCCESS -- I HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH IT. U.S. UNDER WAY BY THE TIME I GOT HERE. BUT IT IS NOT TOTALLY DONE. IT IS DONE ENOUGH TO SHOW YOU TONIGHT. WHEN THIS MEETING IS OVER AT 5:30, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU MOST OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE WILD HORSE & BURRO PROGRAM THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE BLM. ISOTOPE -- I HOPE YOU'LL STAY FOR THAT. IT IS PRETTY EXCITING. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WE ARE WORKING ON -- WE'RE WORKING ON A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE -- HAVING A GOOD CONSULTATION WITH THEM ABOUT MANY THINGS. THE SAME FOR THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. THEIR AGREEMENT WITH US RUNS OUT THIS YEAR. IT WILL BE A COMPETED PROCESS. WE ARE HOPEFUL TO CONTINUE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT -- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT. YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS TOMORROW AS WELL, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT NEW AGREEMENTS AND PROCESSES FOR THE TWO KINDS OF ECO SANCTUARIES THAT WERE ANNOUNCED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE PRIVATE-PUBLIC ECO SANCTUARY IN NEVADA, WHICH JUST GOT STARTED LAST WEEK IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE TWO PROCESSES HAPPENING AND WHAT MAY COME FROM THOSE. ON THE REPORT TO CONGRESS, I KNOW THERE WAS INTEREST IN KNOWING WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT. IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. I CAN COVER IT. YOU WERE BRIEFED ON THIS AT THE LAST MEETING VERY THOROUGHLY. THIS IS, BY THE WAY, WHAT I HAVE REALIZED SINCE THAT MEETING IS THAT IT IS REALLY TWO REPORTS IN ONE. IT IS FROM FIVE YEARS AND A PROGRAM STRATEGY FOR 2012 TO 2014. IT HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF STEPS. THE NEXT COUPLE GO BACK TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY, AND WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR WANTS TO SEE IT OR NOT, WE DO NOT KNOW, BUT THEN IT WILL BE READY TO BE PUBLISHED AND GIVEN TO CONGRESS. WE ARE VERY EXCITED. I WILL REMIND YOU OF THE SEVEN MAJOR COMPONENTS, MANY OF WHICH YOU WILL BE BRIEFED ON. WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR TO BE PUT IN PRINT. WE ARE DOING MANY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM STRATEGY. THE FIRST ONE WAS SUSTAINABLE HERDS. WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING THE USE OF FERTILITY CONTROL ALONG WITH REMOVAL TO ATTEMPT TO GET TO AML BECOME ESPECIALLY ON THE LONG TERM. INCREASING SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. THE EGO SANCTUARY CONCEPT, THE INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM -- THE EAST COAST AND NEW THE ECO SANCTUARY CONCEPT, THE INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM. ECOTOURISM. IT IS THE ONE THAT I THINK NEEDS SOME THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP COMMUNITIES LOOK AT DEVELOPING IT FOR THEMSELVES, HOW THAT COULD WORK. I HAVE GOTTEN SOME IDEAS FROM PROPOSALS OF VARIOUS PEOPLE. THAT MIGHT BE A PLACE WHERE WE COULD USE YOUR EXPERTISE, PARTICULARLY, IS CAPITALIZING AND MOVING ON THAT. THE OTHER PIECE, WHICH MAY SOUND MINOR TO YOU OR BUREAUCRATIC, BUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, IS THAT WE ARE NOW MEETING EVERY MONTH WITH THE DIRECTOR. IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO KEEP HIM APPRISED OF EVERYTHING. IT IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GOOD SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR AND GET HIS THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK AND APPROVALS, ETC.. WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING INTERNALLY. AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE ESTABLISH WHAT I AM CALLING REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TEAMS. THESE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, AGENCY PEOPLE, BLM, FOREST SERVICE, FISH AND WILDLIFE, WHO ARE LOOKING AT KIND OF COMPLICATED ISSUES. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THE ISSUE AND THEN PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN A 90-DAY OR 120-DAY. . THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I WANT TO MENTION. -- 120-DAY PERIOD . THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I WANT TO MENTION. WHEN IT THAN THAT LOOKS AT CONTRACTS -- ONE OF THEM LOOKS AT CONTRACTS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE COME TO ME, BUT THEY ARE NOT THROUGH THE INTERNAL REVIEW YET. THAT TEAM HAS BEEN MEETING AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. THE ALTERNATIVE GATHERS METHOD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TEAM IS THE NEXT ONE. WHAT OTHER WAYS ARE THERE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT GATHERING ANIMALS? WE HAVE THE BAIT TRAPPING NATIONAL SOLICITATION. THAT IS MARVELOUS. ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT? THAT IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE. SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT GO INTO THESE TEAMS ARE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US OR THAT THE PUBLIC HAS GIVEN US. I WANT SOME GROUPS TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS COMPREHENSIVELY. THE NEXT THING IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE TEAM. ADOPTIONS AND SALES, I MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE WHILE AGO. SALLY WILL HEAD UP WAS SOME OTHER FOLKS. IS OUR ADOPTION SYSTEM MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY? IS IT SUFFICIENT TO HELP INCREASE NUMBERS? WHAT ELSE CAN WE BE DOING? THE LAST ONE IS IN THE GERMINATING STAGES. IT IS CALLED TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE RETENTION. WHAT KIND OF FORMAL TRAINING TO WE HAVE IN PLACE? WE DO HAVE SOME WITHIN OUR TRAINING SYSTEM. WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAIN DO WE WANT. WHAT CURRICULUM DO WE NEED TO UPDATE. AS YOU KNOW, IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BABY BOOMERS. A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO WALK OUT THE DOOR WHEN THAT HAPPENS. WE WANT TO KEEP THAT KNOWLEDGE. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UP OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS IS NOT JUST GONE WHEN THESE FOLKS RETIRE? WE'RE DOING TWO TEAM LEADERS. WE STARTED OUT WITH ONE AND REALIZE IT IS A HECK OF A LOAD FOR ONE PERSON -- REALIZED IT IS A HECK OF A LOAD FOR ONE PERSON TO TRY TO MANAGE. KIND OF LIKE THE BOARD IS A REFLECTION OF THE DIVERSE OPINIONS OUT THERE, WE ARE TRYING TO LOAD THESE TEAMS WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS FROM ALL ANGLES. IT IS NOT JUST SPECIALISTS . I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON THE NEXT PIECE. JULY 1 IS WHEN THE NEXT HELICOPTER GATHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN IN JACKSON MOUNTAIN, NEVADA. WE HAVE COMMITTED -- EVERY YEAR, WE WANT TO LOOK AT OUR GUIDANCE, SOME OF WHICH EXPIRES AUTOMATICALLY IN THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE POLICY SYSTEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE FOR WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER -- ALREADY ARE -- GUIDANCE AND ALL THE ASPECTS ON HOW WE CONDUCT OPERATIONS FOREGATHERS -- FOR GATHERS. IT IS THIS CONCEPT THAT I AM SEEKING, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, A COUPLE OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS FROM THE BOARD, TO LOOK AT THE GUIDANCE AT SOME STAGE AND GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS. WE WANT YOUR OPINION. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT BEFORE IT GOES IN THE FINAL. THAT WILL BE THE FAST TRACK. THERE WILL BE A PROCURACY THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I HAVE TO GO UP THE CHAIN -- THERE IS A BUREAUCRACY THAT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH. I HAVE TO GO UP THE CHAIN. IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HELPING TO INPUT INTO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO CAN HELP US WITH THAT. FINALLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IN TERMS OF SUCCESSES, I AM MEETING WITH LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO CHAT WITH ME. I WILL SPEAK AT A SYMPOSIUM IN AUGUST AT THE REQUEST OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. I WILL GO ON TO -- I AM GOING TO MORE GATHERS AND ADOPTIONS. I PLAN TO VISIT THE SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION CENTER IN MONTANA TO LEARN WHAT THAT IS ABOUT AND TO MEET THE DOCTOR IN PERSON. WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A COUPLE OF WEBINARS SETUP IN CONTENT -- IN COOPERATION WITH THEM. A LOT OF BLM FOLKS HAVE BEEN ON THOSE WEBINARS. THE RESEARCH TEAM IS LOOKING AT UPDATING THEIR CHARTER TO INCLUDE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE ADVISORY GROUP. FOREST SERVICES IS THE ONLY OTHER AGENCY INVOLVED IN THE ACT. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE WILD HORSES ON SOME OF THEIR LAND AND THEY MAY BE LEARNING THINGS, DOING THINGS, DOING RESEARCH THAT CAN HELP US. WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT EXPERTISE. GENERALLY, I AM GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM ALL SIDES OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE IDEAS -- THE AREAS WE AGREE UPON AND THE AREAS WHERE WE DO NOT. IF YOU CANNOT AGREE ON THAT, HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD? I WANT TO NOW GO INTO SOME CHALLENGES THAT I SEE FOR US. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THEM FROM THE ACTUAL PRESENTATIONS. ONE THING I AM PROBABLY FEELING IS THAT WE GET IN THE NUMBER FOR THE POPULATION ESTIMATES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28, 2012. THAT IS THE FINAL DATE THAT WE SAY ALL OF THE DATA IS IN AND THAT IS THE NUMBER WE USE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE NUMBER IS APPROXIMATELY 37,000, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN THE NUMBER FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS 38,500. I SAY THE WORD APPROXIMATELY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE USING THIS NEW CENSUS METHOD AS RECOMMENDED TO US BY USGS THAT WE THINK AS MORE RELIABILITY, AS SOMEONE POINTED OUT, YOU CAN ONLY COUNT WHAT YOU CAN FIND. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT CONFINED THEM ALL. -- NOT GOING TO FIND THEM ALL. IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT IT IS DOWN BUT BAD NEWS THAT WE ARE OVER THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE LAND. WE HAVE ASKED THE FIELD IF THEY CAN LOOK AT CURRENT CONDITIONS AND THE DECISIONS -- AND IF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE ARE STILL THE RIGHT DECISIONS. SOME ARE VASTLY OVER AML. THERE IS STILL THE NEED TO REMOVE THEM TO PROTECT THE RANGE. THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE A BIG CONCERN. ADOPTIONS ARE STILL DOWN. LONG-TERM HOLDING SPACE, WE ARE HAVING A CHALLENGE GETTING ENOUGH OF IT. IF IT RUNS OUT, IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. WHERE DO YOU PUT THESE ANIMALS? AND THE SHORT-TERM HOLDING SPACE IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE GAS AND HAY IS RISING. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE COSTS RISE MORE ON THIS BUDGET. WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. THAT IS WHERE THIS ECO TOURISM IDEA, WE WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, I WILL SAY THAT I REALLY THINK A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT FINDING COMMON GROUND WITH PEOPLE YOU DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE IT WITH. THERE ARE MANY GROUPS THAT WILL NEVER AGREE THAT WE SHOULD GATHER AND OTHER GROUPS THAT WE -- THAT THINK WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO THAT. THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT LOVE THE IDEA OF AN EGO SANCTUARY AND SOME GROUPS DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SOME GROUPS THINK THAT THE FULL RANGE OF WHAT THE ACT ALLOWS, WE SHOULD DO. SOME GROUPS OPPOSE THAT. SOME GROUPS THINKS THAT WILD HORSES AND BURROS OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY TOOLS OF OURS, VIEWING THEM AS OPPRESSION OR MANAGEMENT. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN HAVE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY IF YOU WERE TO ALLOW THAT. THAT IS WHAT THE ACT CALLS FOR, TO MANAGE THESE ANIMALS TO SUSTAIN THAT HE DID -- THAT ECONOMICAL -- THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THIS LAND. I APPRECIATE PEOPLE WALKING TO WORK WITH US AS PARTNERS AND COMING FORWARD WITH THAT TYPE OF HONEST ATTITUDE. WE REALLY DO WANT TO HELP WILD HORSES AND BURROS. NO MATTER WHAT FOLKS MIGHT SAY ABOUT US, THE TRUTH IS THAT BLM FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO FIND THE PATHWAY TO WORK WITH. WE CARE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS DEEPLY AND ALWAYS HAVE. PART OF IT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW MORE AND UNDERSTAND MORE. IT IS PART OF OUR CHALLENGE. TOO MANY OF A CHARISMATIC ANIMALS. SOME THINK IT IS WHILE LIFE, SOME THINK IT IS LIVESTOCK, SOME THINK IT IS A PEST. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT IT IS VIEWED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT IS PART OF OUR CHALLENGE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ONE OF THE PRIMARY MECHANISM SWEAR RATIONAL THINKING, CONSULTATION, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, FINDING THE COMMON GROUND, WILL HELP US NAVIGATE THE WAY FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT WITH US TODAY AND TOMORROW. FOR VOLUNTEERING TO DO IT, THANK YOU AGAIN. UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE ARE READY TO MOVE INTO THE PO WEEP -- POWERPOINT UPDATE.
>> [QUESTION INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW AFTERNOON. ANYONE ELSE? THE POWER POINT?
>> IS RIGHT THERE. I AM STANDING IN FOR HOLLY BROOKS, WHO IS OUR ANALYSTS. I WILL BE WORKING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE WE MOVE ON. FOR THE AUDIENCE BENEFIT, WE HAVE A PIE CHART OF YEAR. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE SLIDES. FOR THE BOARD'S INTEREST, UNDER TAB 5, THE SAME INFORMATION PRESENTING -- PRESENTED IN THE SLIDE IS IN TABULAR FORM. I WILL LET YOU FIND THAT. THE SLIDE ON THE SCREEN IS THE UPPER PART OF YOUR BOOK IN CERTIFICATION. -- BOOK INSERT. IT IS OUR SPENDING PLAN FOR 2012. IT IS $77 MILLION. IT IS BROKEN UP FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROCESS. THE WAY WE PLANNED TO SPEND MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS BROKEN INTO WHAT WE CALL PROGRAM ELEMENTS. THERE ARE 11 OF THEM. ALL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE PIE CHART READ PORTION IT IS FOR HG, LETTERS THAT STAND FOR OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. IN 2012, WE PLAN TO SPEND ABOUT 10% OF OUR BUDGET ON THAT ELEMENT, $8 MILLION. I WILL COVER THE BIG PIECES OF THE SPENDING PLAN IN 2012. HOLDING IS 58%. SHORT-TERM HOLDING, THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PIPE AT OVER $27 MILLION. 36% OF IT, ALONG WITH LONG-TERM HOLDING, WHICH IS 22%, NEARLY $17 MILLION. A FULL 58% OF OUR BUDGET IN 2012 IS PLANNED FOR FEEDING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS AND SHORT AND LONG-TERM HOLDING. THE OTHER, BIGGER PIECES OF THE PIPE WERE ADOPTIONS AT 10%, THE GATHER PORTION AT 11%, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART THAT COVERS ALL OF OUR COMPUTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WASHINGTON OFFICE WAGES, TRAVEL TO CONDUCT ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, TRAVEL FOR OUR TEAMS TO DO BUSINESS, THOSE ARE THESE PIECES OF THE PIPE AT ABOUT 16% OF THE WHOLE. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT AND THE PROGRESS TO DATE IN 2012. WE ARE RIGHT WHERE WE SHOULD BE, ABOUT HALF OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT. MORE MONEY TO OBLIGATE TO LONG- TERM HOLDING. WE ARE ON TRACK TO BE WITHIN BUDGET. WHAT I DID NOT MENTION IS, ALONG WITH EACH OF THESE PROGRAM ELEMENTS NOT REPRESENTED HERE, THERE ARE TARGETS FOR WHAT THE FIELD IS TO ACCOMPLISH. FOR EXAMPLE, HG, THE ADOPTION PART, THERE ARE TARGETS FOR NUMBERS OF ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. EACH OF THE STATE'S ADDED UP TO BE OUR NATIONAL TARGET. FOR 2012, IT IS ABOUT 4200 ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALWAYS ASK, HOW MUCH MONEY IS OBLIGATED TO THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT THIS YEAR? I MENTIONED THAT WE GOT $7.7 MILLION TOWARDS ADOPTIONS, UP $3.75 MILLION OF THAT IS TO THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY ALWAYS ASK ABOUT RESEARCH. IN 2012, WE HAVE $600,000 GOING TO RESEARCH. 250,000 OF THAT IS TO THE SPAYBACK PROJECT. RESEARCH AND TRIALS, TO THE STUDY YOU VISITED THIS MORNING, THERE IS ABOUT $100,000 GOING TO THAT. WE HAVE SET ASIDE $250,000 FOR A COUPLE OF NEW RESEARCH ENDEAVORS WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THIS YEAR WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IN THE RESEARCH UPDATE. THAT IS THE 2012 BUDGET SUMMARY. I WILL REVIEW WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FOR 2013. FIRST, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR 2012?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE ANY RESEARCH THAT IS PART OF THIS -- RANGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS BUDGET?
>> THERE ARE A FEW. WE HAVE HAD SOME IN OREGON, BUT NOT THAT MANY. THEY WOULD COME THROUGH IN TWO ELEMENTS THAT ARE NOT ACTUALLY HEAR. I GUESS IF THERE ARE NONE LISTED, THERE ARE NONE PLANNED EXCEPT THOSE LISTED THROUGH VOLUNTEER PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD EARLIER TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DOES NOT MEAN THERE ARE NOT OTHER RANGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON. THERE ARE MANY. MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER PROJECTS THROUGH THE RANGE PROGRAM FOR LIVESTOCK USE, HORSES CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM THOSE. ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS ON THE RANGE OF MANAGEMENT THAT BENEFIT HORSES AND BURROS. NOT SPECIFICALLY FUNDED BY OUR PROGRAM, MORE FUNDED BY RANGELAND MANAGEMENT FUNDING. AND COLLECTED FROM GRAZING RECEIPTS AND ALL OF THAT THAT SOME OF YOU ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THAN OTHERS. MORE QUESTIONS ON 2012.
>> TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, WHEN I AM LOOKING AT THE MANAGEMENT AREAS, THE RANGE MONITORING ITSELF, THEY ARE OUT DOING MONITORING IN GENERAL. IS THAT BEING CHARGED TO THIS PROGRAM OR IS THAT CHARGED TO THE OFFICE IN GENERAL?
>> GOOD QUESTION. SOME OF BOTH. THE HORSE MONEY GOES TO FORCE BUDGETS AND -- TO HORSE BUDGETS AND THERE IS A LARGE PORTION FOR MONITORING GRAZING. THERE IS LOTS OF MONITORING BEING DONE. HOPEFULLY, THOSE COMPONENTS ARE BEING COLLATED TOGETHER AND BEING CONSIDERED AS ONE SET OF DATA. THERE IS OTHER MONITORING, A SEGMENT CALLED CENSUS OR POPULATION SURVEY, THAT IS NOT INCLUDED. MP REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO VEGETATION MONITORING. AND MONITORING OF COURSE HEALTH AS WELL. -- OF HORSE HEALTH AS WELL. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE 2013 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR PROJECTED BUDGET PROPOSED TO CONGRESS IS ABOUT $77 MILLION. IT PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS THE 2012 BUDGET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL PROPOSED FOR RESEARCH, WILD HORSE AND BURRO IS RESEARCH. -- AND BURRO RESEARCH. OK. THE PIECES OF THE PIE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT I REVIEWED FOR 2012, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT THE SAME IN PROPORTION FOR 2013. 57% PROJECTED TO PAY FOR HOLDING COSTS. GATHER AND REMOVAL IS LESS BY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN 2013. MORE FOCUS ON POPULATION, OUTGROWTHS SUPPRESSION IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IN 2012. I SAID MORE, BUT ABOUT THE SAME. NOT TOO MUCH NEW FOR WHAT IS PROJECTED FOR 2013, EXCEPT FOR AN ADDED $2 MILLION FOR RESEARCH. THE RESEARCH MONEY WOULD PROBABLY BE SPENT BY REQUESTING PROPOSALS THAT ARE NEW ALONG THE POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION LINES AND THAT WOULD ALSO RESPOND TO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, WITH. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.
>> IS IT THAT OBVIOUS? MY CONCERN WAS I HAD A QUESTION OUTLINED ON THE PRINTED FORM THAT CAME IN OUR BOOKS AS OPPOSED TO THE PIE CHART IN POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION APPLICATIONS. IN THAT ONE, A DRAMATIC DROP FROM 500,000 TO 75,000. FOR THE PIE CHART, VERY SIMILAR FROM 2012 TO TO 2013. WOULD THAT THE THE COST OF ANY PHARMACEUTICALS THEMSELVES?
>> I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
>> KG.
>> THAT IS A NEW PROGRAM ELEMENT WHICH REFERS TO THE COST TO GATHER ANIMALS FOR POPULATION GROWTH SUPPRESSION TREATMENT. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE DRUGS.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE KF.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT. SO ANIMALS TREATED. KG, THAT IS $567,000.
>> IT GOES DOWN ON YOUR CHART, ON YOUR LISTING NUMERICALLY, IT SAYS IT IS DOWN TO $175,000. LOOKING AT YOUR PIE CHART, IT IS AT $500,000 FOR BOTH YEARS.
>> WHERE DO YOU SEE THE $175,000 FIGURE?
>> ON THE SECOND CHART FOR 2013.
>> I THINK HOLLY HAS SPLIT THOSE OUT DIFFERENTLY, IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO ME. THERE IS NOT A REDUCTION IN FUNDING. I THINK IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH WHERE THE COST OF THE DRUGS ARE PUT. I'M SORRY. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT HOW SHE HAS PRESENTED THIS. I AM NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE PIE CHART IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> YES.
>> HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF THE DRUGS?
>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YES FOR PZB22, THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY USING, THE COST OF MANUFACTURING IS $310 PER DOSE. IT USED TO BE AROUND $240. BUT IT IS $310 AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THAT IS ONLY THE COST OF CAPTURE, NOT THE COST OF LABOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> I HAVE SOME NOTES BELOW THE 200 FIGURE AND A NOTE ABOVE THE 310. THIS ONE HAS $410,000 FOR 1000 DOSES. THAT IS 410 DOSES.
>> INCLUDED IS THE -- INCLUDED IN THAT IS THE RESEARCH FROM THE STUDY THAT WE VISITED THIS MORNING. THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS BLENDED INTO THAT $410,000. I KNOW IT IS CONFUSING.
>> I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THE VACCINE WAS LESS THAN THAT.
>> $310 PER DOSE. AROUND $20 PER DOSE FOR THE ONE THAT WAS JUST REGISTERED WITH THE EPA.
>> WHAT WAS THAT AMOUNT AGAIN?
>> IT IS THE 1-YEAR VACCINE, ABOUT $20-25 PER DOSE. I CAN VERIFY THE EXACT COST. I AM AFRAID I HAVE USED UP ALL OF MY TIME.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A LIBERTY RIGHT HERE. THAT ONE-YEAR, DID YOU JUST SAY THAT AT ONE-YOUR PREPARATION, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN STUDYING THAT?
>> THE ONE YEAR VACCINE?
>> IT HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND IT WAS JUST NOW REGISTERED FOR THE EPA.
>> THEREIN LIES A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. HERE IS THE DRUG THAT WE KNOW HAS NO APPLICABLE VALUE FOR OUR NEEDS CURRENTLY. IT IS JUST BEING REGISTERED AND IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THAT THE AGENCY IS MOVING TOWARDS CONTROL AS OPPOSED TO GATHERS AND REMOVAL.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON THAT. IT IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND IT IS FINED. MY POINT BEING, THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE ARE JUST NOW SEEING REGISTRATION OF A PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR OUR NEEDS.
>> TAKES A LONG TIME. NOT NEARLY AS RIGOROUS OF DRUGS FOR HUMANS, BUT STILL LENGTHY. ARE WE READY TO MOVE ON TO PROGRAM UPDATES?
>> YES, WE ARE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ARE WE TAKING A BREAK OR ARE WE STILL GOING? OK, GREAT.
>> CAN YOU GET THE GATHERS SLIDE UP PLEASE? PRETTY SIMPLE. FOR 2012, THE WINTER GATHERS, IT SAYS COMPLETED, BUT THAT IS FOR THE ACTUALS WE HAVE DONE, 7837 AS FAR AS IT GATHERED AND 5873 WERE REMOVED. THERE WERE 883 MARES THAT RETREATED DURING WINTER. THE PROPOSED FOR THIS SUMMER IS 2549 AND 2509 REMOVED. ON THIS PROPOSED GATHERS THAT WE HAVE, PART OF THOSE ARE PART OF THE SERVICE. WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A PER CAPITA OF 7600 FOR THE YEAR OF 2012. THAT WILL BE -- BLM WILL BE DOING THAT UNLESS WE HAVE SOME EMERGENCY GATHERS. AT THIS POINT, BOROUGHS ARE PART OF IT BUT SERVICE FORCES ARE NOT CONSIDERED PART OF IT. WHEN IT IS ADDED UP, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DOING A LOT MORE. NEXT SLIDE. FOR FY2013, AGAIN CAUGHT IT IS 8504 THAT WILL BE GATHERED AND 7017 WILL BE REMOVED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MAYORS TREATED AT THIS TIME -- MARES TREATED AT THIS TIME IS 658. WE ARE LOOKING AT RELEASING MALE HORSES WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT COMES OUT. BUT IT IS THE NUMBER OF MALE HORSES OVER AND ABOVE THE NUMBER OF FEMALE HORSES THAT ARE RELEASED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED WAS 838. PART OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING AS MANY GATHERS IN THE FALL. WHICH IS THE OPTIMUM TIME. WE ARE DOING IT IN THE SUMMER. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS BASE ISSUES THAT WE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT. THE FACT THAT IT COSTS A LOT MORE MONEY TO HOLD HORSES FOR THE FULL YEAR PURSES HALF A YEAR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALRIGHT, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK. . .
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUR SEATS IF WE COULD AND WE'LL GET STARTED. OK. BEFORE WE GO ON WITH OUR UPDATES WE'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP SINCE THE BREAK. LILY? JOHN FALLON, WHY DON'T YOU COME SIT DOWN?
>> YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN?
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO GATHERS AND BAIT TRAPPING.
>> SORRY FOR BEING A NEWSPAPERY, I'M A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. I -- A NEWBIE, I AIM A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. BUT DO YOU HAVE REPORTS OF BAIT TRAPPING OR HORSES EASIER THAN BURROS, DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? JUST CURIOUS INFORMATION.
>> ASIDE FROM THE GIGGLES? PROPOSALS AREN'T DUE UNTIL MAY 1. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW AVENUE THAT WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. I'M REALLY KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> RIGHT. BUT ON SOME OF THESE, LIKE ARIZONA, THERE WAS --
>> THESE ARE ALL DONE WITH EITHER IN-HOUSE GATHERS WHICH WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, ALL THE BAIT TRAPPING YOU'RE SEEING ON THERE IS EITHER DONE IN-HOUSE OR IT'S BEING DONE BY LOCAL DISTRICT CONTRACTS WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WENT FOR THE NATIONAL CONTRACT, KIND OF GAVE US THE IDEA OF HOW WELL IT WORKS IN SOME OF THE AREAS BETTER THAN OTHERS. BURROS ARE DIFFERENT AS FAR AS BAIT TRAPPING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MONSOONS DON'T COME IN BECAUSE ONCE THEY DO -- OR IF THERE'S AN EXTRA RAIN SPOT HERE OR THERE, THEY JUST SCATTER. BURROS DON'T STAY IN HERDS LIKE HORSES DO, SO THEY ARE VERY SOLITARY MORE SO AS FAR AS THEIR HABITATS. SOME OF THEM COME TOGETHER BUT MOSTLY IT'S WHEN THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OR LESS WATER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND AS FAR AS ON THE HORSES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT US ON THIS OTHER WAS THAT WE HAVE THIS MERGE CREEK AND YOU LOOK ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MERGE CREEK ALL THE TIME BUT MERGE CREEK IS A VERY TIMBERED AREA. SO WHEN WE'VE GONE IN THERE WITH HELICOPTER AND THE HORSES GET IN THE TREES AND GO HEY, GOOD. THEY DON'T MOVE. THEY'VE GONE IN WITH THEM BY HORSE BACK, THEY JUST RUN AROUND THE TREES AND THE GUYS GET HIT BY LIMBS AND THE ROPES DON'T WORK AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFICULTIES IN THAT RESPECT. BUT THERE'S A GENTLEMAN UP THERE THAT LIVES IN THE AREA THAT ACTUALLY HAS STUDIED THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF HORSES, AND SO I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO, MAYBE, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY, SO DON'T HOLD ME TO IT. ANYWAY, THEY HIRED HIM TO JUST DO THIS BAIT TRAPPING. SO WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE BAIT TRAPPING IS A VERY SLOW, VERY LOW NUMBER OF HORSES, AS THEY SAID OK, COULD YOU GET US 40 HEAD OF HORSES IN A YEAR? BUT TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS OTHER, SO WHAT HE DOES IS HE GOES OUT TO AREAS WHERE HE KNOWS THE HORSES ARE, VERY DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME, HE MAINLY USES FOOD-TYPE BAITS. SOME OF IT IS HAY OR SWEET LICKS AND SOME OF IT DIFFERENT THINGS HE'S WORKED WITH. BUT HE BUILDS THE TRAP AND MAY TAKE HIM TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO BUILD THE TRAP SO HORSES GET USED TO GOING IN AND GOING OUT. HE MAY PUT THE BAIT IN AND LEAVE IT FOR A MONTH AND THEN TRAP A FEW HORSES AND TAKE THEM TO BARNS AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE GATHER SCHEDULE, WE ACTUALLY -- HE DID 83 HORSES
>> YEAH, I SAW THAT. IT GOES IN AND OUT. THAT H.M.A. IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON THERE.
>> THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY -- I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO WORK THE GATHER SCHEDULE WITH PUTTING THE BAIT TRAPPING IN OR WHETHER I'M GOING TO SAY IT STARTS THIS TIME, WHICH WE'VE DONE. YOU'LL SEE THAT ON SOME OF THE BURRO ONES BECAUSE THEY KIND OF GO IN THERE AND SAY THEY START OCTOBER 1 AND END SEPTEMBER 30 AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY -- THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE DOING IT ALL YEAR-ROUND.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR LILY? WHILE WE HAVE HER BAIT-TRAPPED?
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. SO ON THOSE -- THE NATIONAL CONTRACT, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT THAT CLOSE. SO IS THAT LIKE FOR A CONTRACTOR TO COVER MULTIPLE STATES OR CAN THEY BE VERY LOCALIZED?
>> THERE'S A SLIDE ON THERE IF YOU ALL WANT TO PUT IT ON. IT SHOWS -- I THINK IT'S IN YOUR BOOK TWO, I'M NOT SURE BUT IT SHOWS ZONE AND THIS IS A REALLY NEW THING FOR US. IT MAY FALL FLAT ON ITS FACE BUT ANYWAY, WE HAVE SIX ZONES THAT COVER EVERY HORSE SERVICE TERRITORY AND EVERY WILD HORSE AND BURRO HERD. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ASKED PEOPLE TO BID BY ZONE . SO IF YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR AND LIVED OVER IN THE UTAH AREA, YOU MAY BID ON ONE ZONE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE LOCAL BUT IN MERGER CREEK WHICH IS IN OREGON, WHICH IS ZONE 1, YOU MAY BID ON THAT BUT IF YOU WANTED YOU COULD BID ON ZONE 1, 2, 3 OR 4, 5 AND 6, WHICHEVER ZONES YOU KNOW THE AREA, YOU MAY ACCESS THE AREA WITH A LITTLE MOBILITY AS FAR AS MOBILIZING AND GOING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE IT'S TIME CONSUMING BUT IT'S TIME CONSUMING ON A LONG PERIOD AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY GO THERE EVERY OTHER MONTH OR WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU'RE WORKING IT AND YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THE AREA. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT -- WE DID A NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON THIS, WORKING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND B.L.M. PEOPLE IS WE FOUND OUT WE COULD PROBABLY UTILIZE 17 CONTRACTORS. SO IT'S NOT -- THEY'RE SMALL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A GUY THAT WANTS TO DO THIS, AS HE'S SHOING HORSES ON THE SIDE. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BIG CONGLOMERATE TYPE THING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL -- THAT KNOW THE AREA THAT WANT TO DO IT THIS WAY. THAT THINK IT'S FUN, YOU KNOW, ARE RETIRED, HAS WORKED WITH HORSES. ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT UNTIL ACTUALLY IT HAPPENS. GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT CALLS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT SHOULD BE KIND OF INTERESTING. THEN EACH TIME THAT WE HAVE A -- THIS IS ALSO VERY DIFFERENT. THEY WILL BE AWARDED ON THEIR TECHNICAL ABILITY. THEIR ABILITIES TO SHOW THEY KNOW HOW TO BAIT TRAP. THEN EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE A MERGERS CREEK AND PUT OUT A TASK ORDER AND EVERYONE THAT WAS WANTED IN ZONE 1 WILL HAVE TO REBID THAT SO THAT THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE BIDDING EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A TASK ORDER WHICH WE DONE DO AT THAT POINT. SO IT'S ALL GRAND NEW TO US. TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. YOU TAKE IT WHERE YOU CAN.
>> YOU FEEL THE COST -- IT'S ALL BRAND-NEW AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REAL FEEL FOR THE COSTS TO GATHER, IN YOUR -- JUST YOUR IMPRESSION, WILL IT BE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN THE HELICOPTER GATHERS WE SEE NOW?
>> THAT'S APPLES AND ORANGES, LLOYD.
>> I REALIZE THAT. I'M SAYING IF YOU LOOK AT AN OVERALL BUDGET AND WHAT IT COSTS TO BRING IN A HORSE --
>> $1,000 A HEAD IS PROBABLY WHAT IS OUR GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE. SO IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE ONE WAY BUT YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE B.L.M. INVOLVEMENT. SO LIKE RIGHT NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS -- YOU CAN'T HAVE ON THESE BAIT TRAPPING, YOU CANNOT HAVE LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE FACT IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE HORSES COMING IN. SO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT A SMALLER NUMBER OF GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE THERE. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE, YOU KNOW, B.L.M. HORSE SPECIALIST CORE THAT WOULD BE THERE PART OF THE TIME. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE TRICKY PART, WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DISTRICT ORIENTED OR FIELD OFFICE ORIENTED BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO THEM. SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD AND WHAT -- THE CONTRACTS WE'VE BEEN DOING IN NEW MEXICO WITH FOREST SERVICE AND THE OTHERS IS THAT THERE'S KIND OF A GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $1,000. THIS MAY ALSO ACTUALLY GO UP. BUT I'M HOPING BY DOING A TASK ORDER FOR EACH ONE, THE PERSON THAT LIVES CLOSER DOESN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL AS MUCH BUT THEIR COSTS WOULD BE LESS. YOU CAN GO DOWN.
>> I THINK THIS IS A TOPIC WE'LL PROBABLY BE ASKING YOU TO REPORT ON AT THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE IT IS NEW AND PROMISING, IN MY MIND, AND WE'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
>> I MEAN, THE THING ABOUT THIS IS IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE OVER HELICOPTER GATHERS BUT WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW US TO GO INTO AREAS WHERE WE'RE ZEROING OUT -- WE'RE NOT ZEROING OUT BUT TRYING TO GET THE STRAGLER HORSES WE WANT TO DO TO GET DOWN TO A.M.L. BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE TREES OR WHATEVER. AND SOME PEOPLE THINK IT POSSIBLY COULD BE USED FOR POPULATION SUPPRESSION DOWN NORTH. WE DON'T KNOW.
>> THANK YOU, LILY. OK. WE CAN GO ON NOW WITH OUR UPDATE.
>> YOU BET. I THINK NOW WE ARE TO B. WHERE ARE YOU, B? DID YOU GET PUT BACK IN THE COMPUTER?
>> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> THE FACILITY REPORT, OR THE FACILITY SUMMARY FROM APRIL 12 OF THIS MONTH. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF HORSES IN HOLDING, ALMOST 47,000 BETWEEN SHORT AND LONG-TERM. THERE'S 14,500 IN SHORT TERM WHICH THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE $5 AND SOMETHING A DAY. THEN THERE'S 32,400 IN LONG-TERM , WITH -- THERE'S AN EXTRA -- WE'VE BEEN FILLING THEM UP PRETTY FAST, THERE'S ABOUT 1,200 HEAD LEFT IN LONG-TERM HOLDING SO WE'RE SHIPPING THEM TO THE TUNE OF SIX TO EIGHT LOADS EVERY OTHER WEEK SO THEY'LL BE FILLED UP SOON. IF WE DON'T GET NEW LONG-TERM HOLDING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. SO THAT'S THE SUMMARY. WE HAVE A CAPACITY FOR 51,000 BUT WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO REACH THAT. BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. WE ALSO ARE STARTING TO STOCKPILE BURROS WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE BECAUSE THEY WERE READILY ADOPTABLE. THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE NOT MOVING OUT. SO WE OPENED UP A NEW FACILITY IN UTAH LAST WEEK AND IT WILL HAVE 400 HEAD IN IT BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE UPCOMING GATHERS IN THE SOUTH OF NEVADA. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT GOOD NEWS. SORRY.
>> WHERE ARE WE IN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, FOR LONG-TERM OR LONG-TERM PASTURES?
>> YOU KEEP JUMPING AROUND ON OUR AGENDA HERE BUT THAT'S OK. LLOYD, CAN YOU ANSWER -- LILY, CAN YOU ANSWER IT FROM THERE?
>> YEAH. [NO AUDIO] [NO AUDIO] [NO AUDIO]
>> THEN WE HAVE 120 E.A. PROCESS BEFORE WE CAN PUT ANY HORSES ON THEM. OK. NEXT SLIDE ON -- THIS IS GOOD NEWS. WE ENDED ON GOOD NEWS. THIS IS THE END OF THE YEAR STATS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. GUYS, WE'VE BEEN TRYING REAL HARD TO MAKE THIS NUMBER GO DOWN AND WE WENT DOWN 1,200 HEAD THIS YEAR SO WE'RE CELEBRATING BIGTIME. WE WENT FROM 38-4 TO 38-5 AND THEN 37-3. WE GATHERED 8,800 HORSES BUT FINALLY WE SAW A DROP IN THE POPULATION. IN THE CENSUS METHOD ARE WORKING, I THINK, BUT WE'RE FINDING MORE HORSES AS WE'RE DOING IT WHICH IS NOT GOOD NEWS BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE, RIGHT? AND THESE ARE ESTIMATES, LIKE JOAN SAID, WE HAVEN'T A CLUE HOW MANY REALLY ARE OUT THERE BUT WHAT WE THINK ARE OUT THERE.
>> THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO BROAD A STATEMENT.
>> IT'S TRUE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPHRASE THAT?
>> IF THIS NUMBER IS GOING TO GO ANYWHERE, IT'S GOING TO GO UP, NOT DOWN. THERE'S PROBABLY MORE OUT THERE THAN WE SEE. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YOU'RE NOT USING THE DIRECT COUNTS ANYMORE, THOUGH? THERE IS A VARIABLE LIKE SIGHTABILITY?
>> THEY HAVE TWO METHODS, ONE OF THEM IS -- THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THREE. THEY ARE STILL DOING DIRECT COUNTS IN SOME PLACES. THEY'RE DOING THE MARKED RECITE, THEY MARK THEM AND GO BACK WITH THE PHOTOS AND RECHECK THEM -- I MEAN, COUNT THEM A SECOND TIME. AND THEN THEY'RE DOING -- WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE OTHER METHOD? SIMULTANEOUS DOUBLE COUNT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DO ADD THAT FUDGE FACTOR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND WE'RE DOING IT ON HOW MANY HERD? 90?
>> 30.
>> 30 NEW ONES THIS YEAR AND THEY'LL COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE HAD FROM LAST YEAR AND THESE NUMBERS HERE ARE COLLECTED AS OF FEBRUARY, LIKE JOAN SAID, SO WE ONLY HAVE THE FULL CROP FROM LAST YEAR. THIS FULL CROP FROM THIS YEAR IS NOT ON HERE YET. THAT WILL BE ON NEXT YEAR'S. SO ADD 20% TO THIS. OK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU.
>> SURE YOU DON'T WANT LILY TO COME BACK AGAIN AND KEEP HARASSING HER? THANKS.
>> I THINK SALLY IS GETTING HER SLIDE UP FOR THE ADOPTION AND SALES UPDATE.
>> WE'RE AT ADOPTION AND SALES. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, I'VE DONE A COMPARISON OF THE 2011 RESULTS AND THE 2012 RESULTS. AND THEY BOTH ARE AS OF APRIL 12. SO IF YOU LOOK AND SEE, WE ARE -- HAVE FEWER ADOPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN -- OR ANIMALS ADOPTED THIS YEAR IN 2012 THAN WE DID IN 2011. AND IT'S MOST NOTICEABLE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATES THAT NORMALLY DO THE LARGER ADOPTIONS. YOU HAVE EASTERN STATES, THIS YEAR THEY ADOPTED 360 ANIMALS. LAST YEAR THEY ADOPTED 425. SO THAT'S A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE. ALSO, NEW MEXICO, THEY HAVEN'T ADOPTED AS MANY AS THEY DID LAST YEAR AT THIS SAME TIME. ONE THING THAT WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, THOUGH, IS THAT IT WAS MENTIONED THERE IS A TARGET FOR THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED. AND ACTUALLY, THAT TARGET IS 4,475. AND SO 2,475 ANIMALS WILL BE ADOPTED BY B.L.M., AND 2,000 WILL BE ADOPTED THROUGH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. AND SO FAR TO DATE AS OF APRIL 12, 610 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE B.L.M. AND 484 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THROUGH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION. SO THAT -- WHAT THAT MEANS ARE THOSE ARE ANIMALS THAT ACTUALLY ARE ADOPTED, NOT ANIMALS IN THE PRISON TRAINING PROGRAM THAT ARE IN TRAINING AND THEN LIKE HOLLYWOOD WHO YOU SAW TODAY WHO IS PROMISED TO SOMEBODY, IS ACTUAL, COMPLETE ADOPTIONS. THAT'S THE SAME WITH THE MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION WITH THEIR TIP PROGRAM. THERE ARE A LOT MORE ANIMALS OUT BEING TRAINED BUT THE ADOPTION PAPERWORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET SO WE DON'T COUNT IT UNTIL THE ADOPTION IS FINAL. I MEAN, THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON, THOUGH. EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO GET MORE ANIMALS MOVED. AND WE HAVE FOUND THE TRAINED ANIMALS DO ADOPT BETTER THAN THE UNTRAINED. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECTS. AND SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT JOAN DID NOT MENTION IS WE HAVE ANOTHER DETAIL THAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COME JOIN US. SHE'S WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. AND IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT, SHE WILL BE HELPING TO COORDINATE GETTING MORE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECTS TO USE MUSTANGS TO HELP SET UP THINGS SO WE CAN USE THE ANIMALS FOR THERAPY. BUT THEN ALSO TO HELP SOME OF THE WOUNDED WARRIORS TO WORK WITH TRAINERS TO LEARN HOW TO TRAIN ANIMALS SO THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER CAREER. SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND HOPEFULLY THAT OF COURSE WILL GET GREAT P.R. AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR EVERYBODY. WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THAT. I DID JUST GET SOME GOOD NEWS FROM THE MADISON EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER EVENT. THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND. AND THEY HAD 31 TRAINERS AND MUSTANGS THAT COMPETED. ALL 31 OF THE ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED. THE AVERAGE WAS THE AVERAGE WAS 4 $625. -- WAS FOR $625. ANOTHER VERY EXCITING EVENT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADOPTION PORTION?
>> AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS AN ADOPTION INTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PROGRAM. HOW DID THAT GO? WAS THERE ANY FEEDBACK FROM THEM? THE OTHER QUESTION RELATING TO THAT IS ALSO THE MARKETING REPORT THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2000 STILL HAS SOME REALLY GOOD, APPLICABLE COMPONENTS OF IT. DID THAT GET LOOKED AT BY THAT REVIEW TEAM? ADOPTION IS CLOSE TO MY HEART SINCE I AM AND A DOCTOR. I THINK IT IS STILL A VERY VIABLE PART OF BLM.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE PROGRAM. THAT IS ONE OF THE TEAMS THAT HAS NOT BEEN PULLED TOGETHER YET THAT WILL BE PULLED TOGETHER AND WILL LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION. IT WILL LOOK AT OTHER MARKETING IDEAS. THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE FOR AN EXTRA OIL EXPERT FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSIST WITH THE TEAM. THAT WILL BE PULLED TOGETHER PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS, I THINK. THE BILL OF SALES, CAN WE BRING THE SLIDE BACK OUT. THANK YOU. SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TOLD 219 ANIMALS. LAST YEAR, AT THIS SAME TIME, 460 ANIMALS WERE SOLD. SO SALES ARE DOWN. FROM THE LAST MEETING, WE DID LOOK AT THE BILL OF SALES. ALSO, THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRES. THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AND THESE ARE NOW UP ON THE WEBSITE AND IN YOUR BOOK. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WAS CHANGED IS THAT WE ADDED ANOTHER FEW SENTENCES AT THE VERY BOTTOM. IT SAYS, "THIS SALE IS NULL AND VOID AND THE ANIMALS WILL REMAIN PROTECTED UNDER A LOT IF THE PURCHASER MAKES ANY MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION IN THE APPLICABLE APPLICATION TO PURCHASE WILD HORSES AND PEROT -- AND BURROS. INCLUDING REPRESENTATIONS' ABOUT THE PURPOSES AND WERE USED FROM WHICH THE ANIMALS ARE -- AND USE FOR WHICH THE ANIMALS ARE CONTAINED." WE WORKED WITH THE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THIS INFORMATION WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK TWICE IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING BAD FOR THE HORSES OR HAD ANY FOOLISHNESS IN MIND. THEY COULD PROSECUTE NOW NOT ONLY UNDER UNDERTHINGS, BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACT.
>> IS THIS GOING TO HELP US OUT?
>> IT WILL HELP US OUT WITH THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IN UTAH. FOR MICHIGAN, THAT ONE, I AM NOT SURE. SHE DID NOT REALLY BREAK ANY LAWS. SHE JUST GOT OVER HER HEAD. HOPEFULLY, WHEN WE SPEND MORE TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE, IT WILL HELP THEM REALIZE THAT -- ONE THING IN THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRES. THERE IS A LOT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DESCRIBING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HORSES SO THERE WILL BE A MORE THOROUGH --
>> I DID SOME BACKGROUND WORK ON THE THING IN MICHIGAN. SHE HAD OTHER HORSES ON THE PROPERTY THAT WERE VERY WELL TAKEN CARE FOR.
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
>> I DID. THE ONLY REASON SHE WAS NOT PROSECUTED IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT. SHE VERY DELIBERATELY STARVED THOSE HORSES AND DID NOT FEED THOSE FORCES. -- THOSE HORSES. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO THE PROSECUTORS, THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE TO ALERTED ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO I TALKED TO STEVE AS WELL. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING -- THESE HORSES ARE BEING SOLD WITHOUT CONDITIONS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLACE WHERE THAT CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY HORRIBLE THING.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. IT JUST TEARS YOUR HEART OUT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW ANYBODY CAN MISTREAT AN ANIMAL.
>> THE ISSUE WAS THAT ALL OF HER HORSES -- I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES. THOSE HORSES CAME FROM TWIN PEAKS. IT WAS HEART WRENCHING. TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED THERE. AND THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR TOLD ME, THE ONLY REASON WE ARE NOT PROSECUTING HER IS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO IT. THEY HAD TO PRIORITIZE MORE SECURE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED BUT I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A LANGUAGE IN THOSE SALES, IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO WHERE WE CAN CHANGE THAT SO THAT WE DO HAVE SOME RECOURSE IF SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THERE IS A DELIBERATE INTENT IN THERE, SOME KIND OF RECOURSE TO GO BACK.
>> I CANNOT ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW. WE CAN TALK TO THE SOLICITORS. I DO NOT KNOW THE LEGALITY OF ALL OF IT.
>> IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO MENTION HERE IN THE MEETING.
>> IS A VERY, VERY GOOD POINT. ONE OTHER THING THAT WE DID THAT HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE PEOPLE, MAKE SURE WE KNOW THERE ARE SERIOUS WHEN THEY ARE CONSIDERING BUYING HORSES, WE ADDED A LINE IN THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT SAYS, I AGREE TO PROVIDE HUMANE CARE OR NOT TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION WITH THE INTEREST TO RESELL OR TRADE OR GIVE ANIMALS AWAY FOR PROCESSING OR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS. THAT IS IN THE SALES QUESTIONNAIRE. AND THEY HAVE TO SIGN IT IF THEY ARE INTERESTED. THE SIGNATURE WILL TIED TO THE BILL OF SALES WHICH CAN THEN BE USED BY LAW-ENFORCEMENT IF NEED BE.
>> THAT IS A REALLY NICE, POSITIVE CHANGE.
>> WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIVE. AS WITH YOU, WE DO NOT WANT ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO THE HORSES.
>> I NEVER HAD THE MOST REMOTE THOUGHT THAT THE PEOPLE AND THE BLM DO NOT CARE ABOUT THESE HORSES. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME -- SOMEONE THAT WILL SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND FIND A WAY TO GET AROUND LEGISLATION. YOU CANNOT PREDICT EVERYTHING. BUT I THINK THESE CHANGES WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON ADOPTION OF SALES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> WE WERE GONNA WRAP UP WITH THE SOLICITATIONS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE COVERED THE LONG-TERM HOLDING AND THE BAIT TRAPPING. UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE, THAT IS ALL WE HAD FOR TODAY'S AGENDA. COULD WE AND ITS EARLY? THIS NEVER HAPPENS. -- COULD WE END IT EARLY? THIS NEVER HAPPENS.
>> COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY?
>> I COULD NOT ONLY TELL YOU, BUT WE CAN PUT IT ON AT 5:00. WE COULD TAKE A 20-MINUTE BREAK. LET'S SEE. WHAT BACKGROUND CAN I GIVE? THAT CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER BACKGROUND. -- ED CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER BACKGROUND. DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
>> ONE THING I WAS GOING TO ASK IS, DO WE WANT TO GO THROUGH TOMORROW'S AGENDA FIRST AND THEN I CAN DO THIS JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TOMORROW OR DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE ALL SEEN IT?
>> I THINK CATHY -- DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO REVIEW TOMORROW'S AGENDA NOW?
>> JUST TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP AND THEN I WILL DO A SHORT INTRO TO WHAT THE DOCUMENTARY IS. WHILE SHE IS GETTING THAT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH BOB ABBEY AND MIKE POOLE ABOUT THE PROGRAM OVER THE THREE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN AS ART DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THEY HAVE OBSERVED THAT WE NEVER REALLY HAD ANY KIND OF VIDEO THAT TOLD THE STORY OF THE WILD HORSES AND BURROS BACK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. ALSO, BROUGHT IN THE PERSPECTIVES OF THOSE FROM OUTSIDE. IT IS NOT JUST A DOCUMENTARY OF BLM FOLKS. IT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE HISTORY OF THE ACT. WHAT MADE THE ACT NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE. AND HOW THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE UNDER THE ACT MANAGE FOR WILD HORSES AND BURROS. I THINK THE GENESIS OF THE IDEA CAME OUT OF SOME OF THE VIDEOS THAT WERE DONE AT 26 WHEN THEY STARTED TELLING THE STORY. WE WANTED TO SEE A STORY FROM PRE-GATHER, HOW WE GO OUT AND INVENTORY THE LAND, LOOK AT THE ANIMALS , FROM GATHER TO ADOPTION, TRAINING PROGRAMS, ETC. THIS FILM PRETTY MUCH TELLS THE WHOLE STORY. IT TALKS ABOUT VELMA JOHNSON AND HER ROLE IN IT. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY -- I LIKE THAT. IS THERE A POKER PLAYER IN THE AUDIENCE? THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE, A VIDEO THAT WAS DONE TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION'S WILD HORSES AND DOCUMENT OUR EXPERIENCES FROM 1971, THE PAST 40 YEARS SINCE THE ACT WAS PASSED. WE WILL SHOW THAT AFTER WE CONCLUDE THE MEETING. I WILL LET CATHY TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TOMORROW.
>> A QUICK CONSENSUS. WE JUST DID A BREAK. WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT ANOTHER 20 MINUTES. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND AS SOON AS THE MOVIE IS QUEUED UP, WE WILL WATCH THE MOVIE.
>> WE DO NOT HAVE POPCORN YET.
>> JUST BRIEFLY, SINCE YOU ASKED ME TO, TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL BEGIN AT 8:00, THERE WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
>> HE IS ON HIS WAY UP.
>> IT IS A VERY GOOD THING. BY THE WAY, WE DID NOT DO THE WHOLE TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE THING. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY, IT WAS BETTER THAN A MOVIE WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO TELL YOU TO TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE. THANK YOU. WE WILL START AT 8:00, WE WILL HAVE BOTH THE SAGE-GROUSE AND SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAM UPDATES. UNTIL OUR KENNECOTT 30 BREAK. AT 10:45, WE WILL BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT. MOST OF YOU HAS -- HAVE SIGNED UP. YOU HAVE UNTIL 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING TO TELL US THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. THAT HELPS US KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE CAN GIVE EVERYBODY. IT TENDS TO BE ABOUT THREE MINUTES. WE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT WE HAVE. AND WE WILL STOP AT NOON. YOU WILL BE USING THIS TABLE, THIS MICROPHONE. YOU WILL BE DIRECTLY ADDRESSING THE BOARD. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO. UNTIL NOON TOMORROW. AFTER LUNCH, WE HAVE SOME BOARD -- INTERNAL BOARD BUSINESS. WE DO NEED CHAIRS, LOOKING AT OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. AND THEN THE BOARD WILL BE TALKING AMONGST THEMSELVES AND MAKING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BLM VERY SPECIFICALLY. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY MOVIES? JUST HANG IN AND AS SOON AS THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THE HORSES COME OUT, -- I AM SORRY, BOYD , I NEED TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU SO YOU CAN OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.
>> UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM A BOARD MEMBER -- SEEING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 8:00. BEFORE WE LEAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ROBIN AND GARY. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
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