08.14.24

Hoeven Discusses Future of Wild Horse Management at TRNP, Scenic Loop Repairs

Senator Hosts NPS Midwest Regional Director in North Dakota

MEDORA, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven this week hosted National Park Service (NPS) Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost in North Dakota to discuss:

  • Management of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s (TRNP) wild horses, part of the senator’s efforts to ensure NPS maintains a healthy, genetically-diverse herd.
    • Hoeven again stressed to Director Frost, as well as Acting TRNP Superintendent Nancy Finley, the importance of being transparent with the public as future management plans for the wild horse herd are developed.
    • The senator also called on the NPS officials to work with stakeholders, experts and advocates in the state to help ensure a process that adequately accounts for the public interest in maintaining the horses.
    • This builds upon a commitment Hoeven recently secured to work on this priority from current Interior Assistant Secretary for Parks Shannon Estenoz, who has been nominated to the second highest position at the Interior Department.
  • Progress on repairs to the scenic loop in the TRNP south unit.
    • In 2019, the roadway failed due to erosion. Since that time, Hoeven has worked with NPS and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) leadership to move the repairs forward.
    • Hoeven worked to fund the 6.15-mile reconstruction through the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation he sponsored and helped pass as part of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).
    • Under this law, the senator has secured $47.5 million for the repairs, which include protections against future erosion and are on track to be completed this fall.

“Director Frost’s visit to North Dakota is a great opportunity to address major priorities for the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This includes the future management plans for the park’s historic wild horse herd and the ongoing repairs of the scenic loop, which we’ve been working to advance for nearly five years and funded to the tune of more than $47 million through the Restore Our Parks Act,” said Hoeven. “We’ve been working hard to ensure NPS maintains a healthy, genetically-viable herd, while encouraging the Park Service to engage with local experts and stakeholders and be transparent with the public about this process. Today’s tour and discussion are an important part of this effort, and we will continue pressing this issue to provide certainty for residents and visitors regarding the future of this critical aspect of the park.”

Maintaining Wild Horses at TRNP

Earlier this year, Hoeven announced he had reached an agreement with NPS to terminate its proposed removal of horses at TRNP under the environmental assessment (EA) process initiated in 2022. To this end, the senator had worked to:

  • As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pass a provision in annual funding legislation directing NPS to maintain “the historic scene commensurate with the historic herds during the period when President Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area.”
  • Secure a 30-day extension of the public comment period on the agency’s proposed options for managing the herd, giving the public additional time to submit feedback to the agency.
  • Advance this priority with NPS officials, including Director Charles Sams, Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost and then-TRNP Superintendent Angie Richman.
    • The senator repeatedly pressed NPS to strongly consider the broad public support expressed by North Dakotans and other stakeholders for maintaining the wild horses at TRNP.

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