(Cedar City, UT)—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City Office announces a 30-day public comment period ending on September 4, 2012, for the Frisco Wild Horse Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) and Gather Plan Environmental Assessment (EA). The BLM is currently soliciting public comments to be considered prior to the finalization of the EA.

This EA has been prepared to analyze the BLM Cedar City Field Office proposal to implement a HMAP that would outline the management goals and objectives for the Frisco HMA. The management strategy of this plan would include a number of population control methods, together with an objective to develop, maintain or improve existing water sources. The EA includes analysis of a proposal to gather and remove excess wild horses and apply fertility control between two and four times over a 10-year period. The first of these gathers is planned to begin around mid-October 2012, with approximately 104 head of excess horses being removed and 31 head of mares being treated with fertility control and then released. The EA describes the potential environmental impacts from implementing the proposed projects and includes related maps.

When submitting comments, please reference the Frisco Wild Horse (HMAP) and Gather Plan EA. Comments, including names, email addresses, and street addresses of respondents will be available for public review at the BLM Cedar City Field Office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday), except federal holidays. Comments and related personally identifying information will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and comments may be published as part of the EA and other related documents.

Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name, street address, or email address from public review and disclosure under the FOIA, you must state this prominently at the beginning of the written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. The BLM will not accept anonymous comments.

Written comments will be accepted during the public comment period up to close of business on September 4, 2012. Please submit written comments to:



Bureau of Land Management

Cedar City Field Office

Attn: Chad Hunter

176 E DL Sargent Drive

Cedar City, UT 84721

Fax: (435) 865-3058