Lisa Grant, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse and burro specialist, attended the regular meeting of the Harney County Court July 18 to discuss the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for wild horse spay feasibility and behavioral research.

In partnership with Colorado State University and the U.S. Geological Survey, the BLM is proposing to conduct a research project at Oregon’s Wild Horse Corral Facility near Hines to evaluate the feasibility and safety of spaying some wild horse mares to slow population growth. The BLM also plans to study the impact to mare and wild horse band behavior once the treated horses are returned to the range.

Grant explained that horses would be gathered in the Warm Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) this fall. Of those gathered, 200 would be selected to return to the range. The selected horses would be divided into two groups of 100 (a control group and a treatment group). Each group would consist of 50 males and 50 females, and about 60 percent of the mares in the treatment group would be spayed.

Grant said, “We’ll actually spay 100 mares just to get a better quantification of the complication rate. Only about 30 or so of those will actually return to the range in that treatment herd though.”

Grant said that the procedure, ovariectomy via colpotomy, has probably been in existence for 100 years.

“The issue is that it has been done on domestic mares who are not pregnant. Every time we gather, most of the mares are pregnant, and they’re wild horses so they react quite differently.”

She said non-pregnant mares, mares who are less than 120 days pregnant, and mares who are 120 to 250 days pregnant will be spayed and studied, but late-gestation mares will not be spayed.

Some of the horses that are returned to the range will receive GPS collars or tail tags so that they can be tracked and their behavior can be studied through 2021.

In addition to the study, the BLM is planning a 10-year population management plan for the Warm Springs HMA. Although the study will only pertain to horses, the plan will include management of wild horses and burros over the next 10 years.

“Our appropriate management level on the whole HMA for horses and burros, the high end is 202 animals,” Grant said. “Right now, we have about 852 horses, that’s including foals, and around 60 or 70 burros, so it will be a big gather this fall.”

Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens asked why so many horses will be returned to the range during the study, and Grant replied that a sufficient sample size is needed for the study. However, she noted that there will be another gather after the study is published in 2022 to get within the low end of the appropriate management level.

The BLM’s Rob Sharp said this project is one of several fertility-control projects nationwide. In the 10 western states where the BLM manages wild horses and burros, the appropriate management level is just under 28,000 animals, but the 2018 adult animal population is estimated at just under 82,000.

Copies of the draft EA are available for review at the BLM Burns District Office during regular business hours or online at https://eplanning.blm.gov

The 30-day public comment period closes July 30. Comments can be mailed to Mare Spay Research Project Lead, BLM Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy. 20 W. Hines, OR 97738 or faxed to 541-573-4411.

Grant said the BLM is receiving quite a few comments (mostly form letters) due to a public affairs campaign from advocacy organizations. She said activist groups will likely be present during the gather and spaying, and there might be some protesting. She noted that the Harney County sheriff is aware of the situation.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels said he would like to observe the gather and spaying and talk to others in attendance. Runnels added that he plans to submit comments in favor of the project.

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Christoph Heinzer of Develosol attended the meeting to discuss an optional agreement that would allow solar companies to pay the county $7,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity in lieu of property taxes.

“The reason that we would like to get that put in place is because, from our investors’ standpoint, not knowing what the taxes are going to be for the next 25 years is really difficult. It’s kind of like a big question in terms of what kind of money they’re going to make and that kind of thing, where as knowing that it’s going to be $7,000 per megawatt AC for the next 20 years is really easy to punch into a financial model,” Heinzer  said.

Owens noted that Harney County Assessor/Tax Collector Ted Tiller predicted that the county would lose money if it entered into a payment in lieu of taxes agreement.

“From my perspective, the way that the county is assessing the project is likely based on state information, which is likely based on old information,” Heinzer said. “We can provide what the projects cost to build, and my guess is it’s half of what the state has on their records.”

He explained that the cost of building a solar facility used to be more than double what it is today, and lower building expenses generate lower taxes.

The court will schedule a work session with Heinzer and Tiller to continue the conversation.

Heinzer also reported that a legal grant of access off of Highway 20 will be needed in order for the solar project to continue in that area.

The court will work with the Oregon Department of Transportation and Heinzer to support the application for access.

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Becky Cunningham attended the meeting to discuss financial concerns at Rimrock Recycling.

“We need to figure out how we can keep Rimrock open,” Runnels said.

Cunningham reported that Rimrock has material that’s ready to ship, but a truck is needed to haul it away. She said there is also a pile of aluminum that could be sorted and sold.

However, she said, “Currently we’re running on half time, half a crew, which is not allowing us to stay up with the work that’s coming in the door. We’re working three days a week at six hours a day for two people. That’s not keeping up with the baling.”

Rimrock applied for numerous grants, but the process takes time, and the earliest closing date is Aug. 28.

Runnels asked, “Is there a way we can help?”

He said, “If they were to lock the doors and walk away, someone is going to have to clean it up, and it’s going to fall to the county,” adding, “My fear is people are going to start going dumping stuff out in the county.”

Diane Rapaport asked the court to provide a short-term donation to get the nonprofit over this hump.

Before the court donates money, Owens said he would like to see a business plan for the next year. Rapaport said she will help Rimrock put one together.

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Burns City Manager Dauna Wensenk reported that a delivery of jet fuel to Burns Municipal Airport was delayed.

“This has been part of our problem the last few years when we ran out of fuel,” Wensenk said. “I got a note today from Walt Sitz, the airport manager, saying that he had talked to the gentleman that has the truck that delivers [fuel], and [he] said that they are tied up all across Oregon because [there are] not enough drivers,” Wensenk said.

She explained that wildfires have created an increase in demand for fuel across the state, and drivers are in short supply because they have a 10-hour rest requirement. She added that the only way around the requirement is for the governor to declare an emergency.

She then asked the court about the process for declaring an emergency. Runnels said he would help Wensenk draft a declaration for the Burns City Council to review.

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In other business:

• Veterans Service Officer Guy McKay reported that a Stand Down activity will be held Sept. 15 at Burns Elks Lodge. The event will feature free food, music, children’s activities, information about community resources, and fellowship with veterans;

• Darlene Wingfield reiterated her concerns regarding her cattle’s access to water, road safety, and materials that were left behind in conjunction with the bridge replacement project on Embree Lane.

Runnels apologized for the delay said he will follow up with Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella. The court might also visit the property;

• approved resolutions 2018-12 and 2018-13.

Runnels explained that the resolutions will give the county more points on its Community Development Block Grant application. Resolution 2018-12 designates Communities in Action to be the administrator of the grant (if it’s received), and Resolution 2018-13 authorizes the adoption of a limited English Proficiency Plan;

• appointed Sharon Scone to the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization Community Advisory Council;

• discussed water use requests;

• received correspondence from Jerry Grondin, Oregon Water Resources Department hydrogeologist, regarding surveying at groundwater level measurement wells.

The next meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse. There will be a work session with the Oregon Farm Bureau and Harney County Farm Bureau at 1:30 p.m. An additional work session with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the Malheur Lakes Redband Trout Conservation Plan will follow.

The subsequent county court meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m.