Hello and Happy Sunday to everyone!

If you are like us, after these last two months of literally unraveling the Draft EA that Theodore Roosevelt National Park released in September of this year, you feel A LOT like Boomer right now! 

There have been a few questions floating around that we wanted to answer today:

What happens now? 

Does the Park read ALL of the letters that were sent?

Yes – the Park is ABSOLUTELY responsible for EVERY word and EVERY page that was sent to them. 

Case in point:

In the Park’s December 2022 scoping letter -The Park stated this as their purpose statement:
“Park Purpose Statement: Theodore Roosevelt National Park memorializes Theodore Roosevelt and pays tribute to his enduring contribution to the conservation of our nation’s resources by preserving and protecting the scenery, native wildlife, and wilderness qualities—the landscape that inspired Roosevelt and still inspires visitors today.”

That was a quote from the Park’s Foundation document that reads:

“Theodore Roosevelt National Park memorializes Theodore Roosevelt and pays tribute to his enduring contribution to the conservation of our nation’s resources by preserving and protecting the scenery, wildlife, and wilderness qualities of the North Dakota Badlands—the landscape that inspired Roosevelt and still inspires visitors today.”

Did you notice the word “native” quietly being slid into the scoping notice?  Our lawyers did!

This is from our CHWHA January 2023 comment letter:

“Interestingly, the Park’s Scoping Notice also includes a subtle reimagination of the Park’s overall purpose statement, as promulgated in its 2014 Foundation Document. Whereas the Foundation Document defines the Park’s purpose statement as paying tribute to Theodore Roosevelt by “preserving and protecting the scenery, wildlife, and wilderness qualities of the North Dakota Badlands—the landscape that inspired Roosevelt and still inspires visitors today,” the Scoping Notice, adds for the first time ever, the word “native” to that statement: Theodore Roosevelt National Park memorializes Theodore Roosevelt and pays tribute to his enduring contribution to the conservation of our nation’s resources by preserving and protecting the scenery, native wildlife, and wilderness qualities— the landscape that inspired Roosevelt and still inspires visitors today.  Scoping Notice at 2 (emphases added). Despite the far-reaching implications of this change (well beyond wild horse management), the Park’s Scoping Notice fails to notify the public of the sudden change to its “Purpose Statement,” and does not invite the public to comment thereon. See id.”

The result?  The Park “fixed” this statement when they came back with the Draft EA.

The Park is legally responsible for the information that ALL of us sent them.  If there is a “controversy”, like the example above, they have to correct that – which they did in this example. 

Yes, we feel that Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates and many of you in your own comment letters –  gave the Park A LOT of “controversy” this time around too!  You can read our CHWHA/AWHC comment letter here: https://chwha.org/november-2023-comment-letters/

What happens now?

The Park will read through all of the comments they received.  As Superintendent Richman stated in a newscast on Friday: “a comment analysis report will be made from the feedback.”

The Park has been good at giving us those reports.  They will let us know how many people commented, including how many total comments and how many “unique” comments were received.  They will also let us know how many addressed different issues and how many agreed with the alternatives they offered.  You can view past reports on the Park’s planning website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=105110

The Park has stated that they will be back with the next step in the spring.  Superintendent Richman also stated that the decision will be made by the regional and national NPS offices. 

To that we want to add…

Superintendent Richman did NOT initiate this process.  This was in the works long before she came to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  We know this from the FOIA records obtained by AWHC and by the fact that the Park announced her position as superintendent at the Park on March 23, 2023 stating that she would start in May of 2023. The Park released their plans to start this management planning process on March 16, 2023. 

Superintendent Richman was sent here to do a job, and a big part of that is this “Livestock Plan”.  That being said, Superintendent Richman’s total lack of public engagement and robotic responses are NOT winning her any brownie points with the general public, the state of North Dakota or even the town of Medora. 

We also know from our conversations with our state legislators and Senator Hoeven’s office that NPS National Director Sams seemed open to the concerns that were raised in meetings they had.  We know that ND Governor Burgum has personally met with Director Sams on several occasions.  We also know from the Associated Press article released last week along with personal conversations with Jack Dura and Governor Burgum’s office last week that Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Governor’s office are communicating.  Burgum’s office told us last week:

“Our office has offered to the park to find ways to keep the horses in the national park and all possibilities are still on the table.  We do not have any formal proposals or specific details to share at this time.

We will let you know if things progress further where greater details would be available.”

As for this NEPA process…

The Park will either come back with a Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) OR they will let us know that they will be moving forward with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  The Environmental Assessment part of this process was to determine IF their proposed action – total elimination of this herd – would have an impact on the environment.  That “environment” includes the scientific/ecological environment as well as the historical and cultural, and economic environments that we raised in our comment letter.  The only thing that was completed on Friday was the last public comment period on the Environmental Assessment.  Our lawyers took the time to make sure all of the “i’s” were dotted and the “T’s” were crossed.  We believe that we have given enough documentation to the Park for them to see that they need to move forward with an EIS. We will know in the spring what course the Park takes.  Their actions in the spring will prompt talks with our legal team to see if there is anything CHWHA needs to do moving forward. 

Lastly, many of you have also sent us PM’s, emails or made comments letting us know that you expressed your concerns to TRNP staff when you called or visited the Park. 

I cannot express this enough:

WE LOVE THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK! 

There is nothing that our organization or any of us individually would not do for the Park if they needed ANYTHING! 

We have  been saying this for years – what we disagree with is the Park’s management of the wild horses entrusted in their care. 

These current decisions are NOT being made by the person answering the phone.  They are NOT being made by the people manning the desk at the park or the Park rangers patrolling the park.  THOSE are NOT the people who need to hear your opinions.  I would venture to guess that many of them share your sentiments and have heard exactly what you said to them countless times for almost 2 years now. 

How do I know this?

I chose this picture of Boomer for another reason. 

That photo was taken last week while we were in the Park.  The band just hiked up for the day and Boomer and Blue Angel both laid down and took a nap.  Blue Angel got up after a short time and then Boomer seemed to trade with her and take a nap himself. 

As we were there photographing the horses, a Park Ranger pulled up behind our vehicle.  As I made my way back to our vehicle, he greeted me and asked:

“Were you just out there by that white horse?”

“Boomer?” I asked.

“Oh, you do know them!  Good!  I saw him lying down and was trying to get his attention.  Is he ok?” he asked.

I explained what I did at the start of this, and he was relieved.  He wanted to make sure he was ok because he was laying still for so long. 

This comment period that ended on Friday was your chance to say what you needed to say to the people who needed to hear it.  The people who work for the Park in the visitor center and gift shops more than likely are NOT the people who will be reading your comment letter or making final decisions. 

Will our comments make a difference?

If you took the time to send in a comment letter, there is a chance that your words will reach the right people.  If you didn’t exercise your rights during this time, then no, your voice will not be heard. 

We get one chance to save these horses.  CHWHA is continuing to fight from every angle.  We are in contact with our state legislators, Governor Burgum and Senator Hoeven’s offices.  We will talk more about what is happening there this week.

For now, keep talking about these historically amazing wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home.  People will mistakenly think this is over since the public comment period ended.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  We are at the beginning of a very long Fight for the Spirit of the Badlands and we need everyone’s help to save this herd. 

We hope this answers your questions.  Please do not hesitate to send us any other questions you may have.  Educated advocates make educated statements and comments!  You can email us any time at info@chwha.org. 

We will also offer (again) to any other organizations that want to work with us on some critical things while we wait for the Park to come back in the spring to simply contact us. There is A LOT of work that needs to be done! These horses need ALL of us and we only get one chance to save them!

We have also been working on updating our website.  We have added some of the comment letters we have received and are working on adding others.   You can email us your comment letter if you would like us to share it on our website.

Thank you for your support and have a GREAT Sunday!

P.S. Don’t forget to check out our silent auction! There are so many WONDERFUL items that were donated to us! You can help support Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates advocacy work AND find some GREAT items for yourself AND/OR those special people on your holiday shopping list! You can view all of the items and place your bids here: https://chwha.betterworld.org/auctions/chwha-giving-hearts-day-silent-a

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