FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOI - 618 - Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	618
Original Establishment Date	6/6/1972	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-bur...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	9
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	BLM Assistant Director, Resources and Planning
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	2/5/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Sharif
Date Of Renewal Charter	2/5/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Branham
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 208-3801
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 208-5010
Specific Establishment Authority*	Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971	Designated Federal Officer Email*	sbranham@blm.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/15/1971
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Board assists and advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the BLM, and the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Chief of the Forest Service, on wild horse and burro policy formulation and oversight of the Wild Horse and Burro Program administered under the provisions of the Act.
How is membership balanced?*	The Advisory Board membership is balanced in terms of categories of interest represented and geographic locations. Each member, who, based on their professional background, training, experience and/or affiliation, has knowledge or special expertise that qualifies him or her to provide advice from among the listed categories. Advisory Board members who serve as representatives are in the positions of wild horse and burro advocacy; wild horse and burro research; humane advocacy; wildlife management; livestock management; natural resource management; veterinary medicine; and two positions representing public interest: one with a focus on equine behavior and one with a focus on protection of wild horses and burros, management of wildlife, animal husbandry and/or natural resource management.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Advisory Board generally meets twice a year, and may meet up to four times a year according to the Charter if the DFO deems necessary. The Committee meetings are highly relevant, providing the BLM and the USFS with recommendations aimed at addressing the most pressing issues and needs.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Advisory Board gathers and analyzes current information on wild horse and burro management and considers relevant public comments in order to offer advice and develop recommendations from a national perspective for the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Chief of the Forest Service on the management and protection of wild horses and burros.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	The Board met January 7-8, 2025.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The Board allows for the input from citizens with special training and expertise in the fields of wild horse and burro advocacy, humane advocacy, livestock management, wildlife management, equine research, veterinary medicine, natural resources management, equine behavior, and public interest.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Analysis has not been done to determine cost savings associated with the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. However, the recommendations made by the Board are highly valued by the BLM and the Forest Service and have an influence on strategic direction and program priorities.	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	377	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Board made the following 4 recommendations at the January meeting: 1)The Board recommends in 2025 that the USFS and the BLM create detailed, measurable 5-year plans describing how they will incrementally reduce population size and growth in order to ultimately achieve range-wide AML. The plans should prioritize application of fertility control, administered remotely and/or in concert with gather-removals. 2) The Board recommends in 2025, and going forward, even if removals are constrained by availability of off-range holding space, application of fertility control should be prioritized as a tool to stabilize population growth in every HMA or WHT. This should include HMAs or WHTs where AML has not been achieved, and should be applied by gather, hold, release and/or by remote darting. 3) The Board recommends that the BLM acquire a contractor for developing an immediately implementable, 2025-onward fertility control management protocol framework to maintain AML at the 45 HMAs currently at or near AML. 4) To the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior, the Chief of the Forest Service and the National Director of the Bureau of Land Management: the Board recommends the formation of an interagency task force/planning group during the 2025 calendar year to investigate the feasibility and cost benefit of an interagency Wild Horse & Burro adoption center/facility to be located specifically in the Eastern United States.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	70.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The BLM has is in the process of implementing recommendations.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	30.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Many recommendations are broad in scope, complex, and/or involve additional resources (staff and funding) and multiple activities and actions taken over time.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Feedback is provided to the Board by written reports and presentations giving the results of analysis and research completed on each recommendation. These materials are usually provided at the Board meetings.	Narrative Description*	The Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board provides advice concerning the management, protection, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands administered by the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Department of Agriculture, through the U.S. Forest Service.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 10:49 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

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