09.25.23

Hoeven: NPS Issues Draft Environmental Assessment for Managing Wild Horses at TRNP

Senator Pressing NPS Leaders to Maintain Historic Herd, Encourages North Dakotans to Provide Feedback

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the National Park Service (NPS) issued a draft environmental assessment (EA) on options for managing the wild horse herd at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Hoeven has been urging NPS leadership to maintain the herd, having repeatedly raised this priority with officials including:

  • NPS Director Charles Sams.
    • This includes a February meeting Hoeven convened with Sams and state leaders to outline concerns with NPS’s proposal to remove the wild horses from TRNP.
  • NPS Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost.
  • TRNP Superintendent Angie Richman.

In addition, Hoeven secured a provision in the Senate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Interior funding legislation, which has been approved through the Senate Appropriations Committee, calling on NPS to maintain the wild horse herds consistent with the period when Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in North Dakota.

“The legacy of Theodore Roosevelt is a central aspect of North Dakota’s history, and our efforts to maintain the wild horse herd at TRNP is about preserving this historic scene as a key part of the visitor experience,” said Hoeven. “We continue pressing NPS to maintain this herd, both in meetings with their leaders and through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and we encourage North Dakotans to provide their input to the agency during this public comment period.” 

NPS will accept public comment on the draft EA for 30 days, through October 25, 2023. Hoeven encourages North Dakota stakeholders to provide feedback to the agency during the comment period. The draft EA can be read here.

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