U.S. RESOLVES WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS ACT
DISPUTE WITH THE STATE OF WYOMING

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice today announced a settlement with the State of Wyoming to resolve the state’s claims that the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management had violated provisions of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act by failing to remove excess wild horses from public lands in Wyoming. Today’s settlement provides for the removal of excess wild horses to achieve the appropriate management levels (AMLs) that have been established by the Bureau of Land Management for the herd management areas in Wyoming by December 15, 2004.

“Today’s settlement is an example of the federal government’s strong commitment to proper management of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas L. Sansonetti. “We are pleased because today’s settlement will help to restore a thriving natural ecological balance to the range, and protect the range from the deterioration associated with overpopulation.”

The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office last week announced that they successfully reached the AML for wild horses in the Adobe Town Herd Management Area, and on August 12, they reached AML in the Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Area. Both areas are in southwest Wyoming. More gathers are planned for this fall.

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 was enacted to provide for the management, protection and control of wild horses and burros introduced on public lands. The statute was amended by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978. Under the statute, excess wild horses that are removed from public rangelands are relocated to long-term holding sanctuaries and are made available to private owners through the Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro adoption program.

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