Project Name: Pokegama Herd Management Area Plan and Gather

September 16, 2026: The public comment periods for the Pokegama HMA Management Evaluation Report, Appropriate Management Level (AML) Analysis, and public scoping period for the draft HMAP and Gather EA (Chapter 1 and 2) are open until Friday, October 16th, 2026. The HMA Management Evaluation Report identifies key issues, management goals and objectives, and potential actions for the process of developing a Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) for the Pokegama HMA. The AML Analysis documents the results of a multi-tiered analysis used to establish and adjust the AML of wild horses.

Scoping is the process by which the BLM collects information to learn more about potentially significant issues related to a proposed action. Issues may point to significant environmental effects - including ecological, aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, local custom and cultural, or health effects - and a bureau’s recognition of issues can help shape its evaluation of the proposed action and alternatives. Scoping is further explained in Appendix 1, Section 1. of the U.S. DOI Handbook of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, February 2026 https://www.doi.gov/media/document/doi-nepa-handbook.

The Bureau of Land Management will consider comments received during this timeframe to define the scope of analysis for the environmental assessment document.