The Bureau of Land Management is seeking initial input on the scope of analysis for a programmatic environmental assessment to evaluate humane, science‑based methods for managing wild horse and burro populations on public lands. BLM is seeking initial input on the scope of issues and alternatives that should be considered. A programmatic environmental assessment is intended to provide a consistent analytical foundation for future management decisions, improve transparency, and help better protect animal and rangeland health while reducing redundant environmental reviews and mitigate costs. Additional information on the preliminary purpose and need, alternatives, and issues can be found in the scoping package document under the "Documents" tab. Comments may be submitted through the BLM National NEPA Register by July 2, 2026.

The programmatic assessment will not authorize any new actions directly. Instead, it will streamline the National Environmental Policy Act process by providing baseline analysis for future site-specific reviews, ensuring those analyses can focus more on local conditions while maintaining rigorous environmental standards. This approach is intended to reduce unnecessary delays and redundant analyses, lower costs to taxpayers, and improve outcomes for wild horse and burro herds and public lands.

More information on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program is available at BLM.gov/whb.