[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71151-71152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34023]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-220-09-1060-00-24 1A]


Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board; Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild 
Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters 
pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses 
and burros on the Nation's public lands.

DATES: The advisory board will meet Wednesday, January 13, 1999, and 
Thursday, January 14, 1999, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time, and 
on Friday, January 15, 1999, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. local time.
    Submit written comments no later than close of business January 22, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: The advisory board will meet at the Heritage Hotel and 
Convention Center, 1780 Tribute Road, Sacramento, California 95815.
    Send written comments to Bureau of Land Management, WO-610, Mail 
Stop 406 LS, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for electronic access and filing address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Knapp, Wild Horse and Burro Public Affairs Specialist, (202) 452-
5176. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Rely Service at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through 
Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Meeting

    Under the authority of 43 CFR part 1784, the Wild Horse and Burro 
Advisory Board advises the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of 
the BLM, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Chief, Forest Service, 
on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-
roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands. The tentative 
agenda for the meeting is:

Wednesday, January 13, 1999

--Breakout into the four subcommittees (horses on the range, horses off 
the range, science and burros) to address the following topics: fee 
reduction clarification; sanctuary issues; interim selective removal 
policy; holding and training facilities; training of wild horses; 
fertility control guidelines; remote sensing; burro capture methods; 
1992 Strategic Plan; range monitoring; setting appropriate management 
levels; and zeroing out herd management areas.

Thursday, January 14, 1999

--Review of the proposed plan for the adoption of the Oklahoma foals;
--Review of requirements for report to Congress;
--Public Comment and an opportunity for members of the public to 
address questions to the advisory board and to the BLM;
--Subcommittee follow-up;
--Review of BLM handbooks (Adoption; Management Considerations; Capture 
and Removal of Wild Horses and Burros; and Compliance).

Friday, January 15, 1999

--The advisory board will make formal recommendations to the BLM, 
discuss and agree on subcommittee assignments, and plan a preliminary 
agenda for their next meeting.

    The meeting is open to the public. The advisory board will make 
detailed minutes of the meeting. BLM will make the minutes available to 
interested parties who contact the individual listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The meeting sites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 
An individual with a disability who will need an auxiliary aid or 
service to participate in the hearing, such as interpreting service, 
assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format, must 
notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT two 
weeks before the scheduled hearing date. Although BLM will attempt to 
meet a request received after that date, the requested auxiliary aid or 
service may not be available because of insufficient time to arrange 
it.
    Under the Federal advisory committee management regulations (41 CFR 
101-6.1015(b)), BLM is required to publish in the Federal Register 
notice of a meeting 15 days prior to the meeting date.

II. Public Comment Procedures

    Members of the public may make oral statements to the advisory 
board on January 14, 1999, at the appropriate point in the agenda, 
which is anticipated to occur at 1:00 p.m. local time. Persons wishing 
to make statements should register with BLM by noon on January 14, 
1999, at the meeting location. Depending on the number of speakers, the 
advisory board may limit the length of presentations. Speakers should 
address specific wild horse and burro-related topics listed on the 
agenda. Speakers must submit a written copy of their statement to the 
address listed in the ADDRESSES section or bring a written copy to the 
meeting.
    Participation in the advisory board meeting is not a prerequisite 
for submittal of written comments. BLM invites written comments from 
all interested parties. Your written comments should be specific and 
explain the reason for any recommendation. BLM appreciates any and all 
comments, but those most useful and likely to influence decisions on 
management and protection of wild horses and burros are those that are 
either supported by quantitative information or studies or those that 
include citations to and analysis of applicable laws and regulations. 
Except for comments provided in electronic format, commenters should 
submit two copies of their written comments where

[[Page 71152]]

feasible. BLM will not necessarily consider comments received after the 
time indicated under the DATES section or at locations other than that 
listed in the ADDRESSES section.
    In the event there is a request under the Freedom of Information 
Act (FOIA) for a copy of your comments, we intend to make them 
available in their entirety, including your name and address (or your 
e-mail address if you file electronically). However, if you do not want 
us to release your name and address (or e-mail address) in response to 
a FOIA request, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comment. We will honor your wish to the extent allowed by law. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be released in their entirety, including names and 
addresses (or e-mail addresses).

Electronic Access and Filing Address

    Commenters may transmit comments electronically via the Internet 
to: [email protected]. Please include the identifier ``WH&B'' in the 
subject of your message and your name and address in the body of your 
message.

    Dated: December 17, 1998.
Henri R. Bisson,
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 98-34023 Filed 12-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M