Proposed Withdrawal Extension PMWHR

The BLM Billings Field Office has issued a notice of a Proposed Withdrawal Extension for the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR). The Billings Field Office held a meeting on February 29, 2024 in Lovell, WY to explain the proposal. The meeting was informational in nature, and invited the public to submit comments by April 16, 2024. As an FYI, this action is separate from the Environmental Assessment that was issued in early 2023 which is still pending.

The summary from the Federal Register (Volume 89, No 11. January 17, 2024) states: The Secretary of the Interior proposes to extend the Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7628 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 7628 withdrew (closed) 1,960.10 acres of public lands in Big Horn County, Wyoming from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws, including the US mining laws, subject to valid existing rights to….protect the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.

Just what is a withdrawal? A withdrawal is a tool used to close or “withhold” Federal land from certain public land laws and/or mineral laws so the land can be dedicated to a certain public purpose or to protect certain public resources.

What does this Proposed Withdrawal Extension mean for the PMWHR?

In September 1980, PLO 5760 withdrew 1960.10 acres. The purpose of the withdrawal was to protect wild horse and wildlife habitat, watershed recreation, cultural, and scenic values within the PMWHR.
The current PMWHR Withdrawal established by PLO 7628 on March 8, 2005 withdrew the same lands for the same purpose. That withdrawal will expire on March 7, 2025, unless it is extended.
The Secretary of the Interior proposes to extend PLO 7628 for an additional 20-year term.
If extended, the lands would remain withdrawn or “closed” from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws, including the US mining laws, subject to valid existing rights to protect the PMWHR for an additional 20 years.

What land is involved in this withdrawal extension? The map below shows the land involved in the Proposed Withdrawal Extension. This land (indicated by the red border and highlight) is managed by the BLM Billings Field Office and located in the state of Wyoming. This represents the 1,960.1 acres that is to be closed to the various activities in order to protect the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.

In an email to the Mustang Center, the BLM gave an easy-to-understand statement to explain the purpose of the proposed withdrawal extension: Withdrawals are only valid for 20 years, so we need to essentially update our paperwork. The extension will ensure that this portion of the Wild Horse Range (1960.1 acres in WY) remains protected and nothing will change from the current status.

*March 7, 2024: Stallion, Sundance, moves his new mare, Ukulele Lil, across the Big Coulee drainage, a part of the land in the Proposed Withdrawal Extension.*

Editor of the Lovell Chronicle, David Peck, attended the public meeting and wrote a front-page article in the March 7 edition. Here is a link to access the article which gives more details about the Proposed Withdrawal Extension PMWHR: https://lovellchronicle.com/content/pryor-mountain-withdrawal-extension-discussed-public-meeting-last-week

The public is invited to submit comments regarding this extension. The Mustang Center has submitted comments in support of the Proposed Withdrawal Extension to best ensure protection of that portion of the PMWHR. If you choose to submit comments, you will state if you are in support, or not in support, of this proposal and a short, supporting statement. Feel free to contact us for more details or information about submitting comments by email: pryormustangs00@gmail.com.

Let your voice be heard: Comments received before April 16, 2024 will be considered. Mail or hand deliver your written comments to the address shown below: