Judge Nancy Freudenthal has ruled on a federal court case concerning a controversial wild horse round-up that took place last year in southwestern Wyoming.
Freudenthal said that the BLM violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the roundup, which means there was not sufficient study of the potential environmental impacts of the roundup.
Opening arguments were heard Monday in the case.
Bill Eubanks represented the horse advocates, and argued that siding with the BLM could set a precedent that would sharply cut the number of horses allowed on the range. Eubanks says his clients were glad to finally voice their opinion in a federal court.
"We’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Our position is that this is a very important case, very high stakes, and we hope that the court ultimately rules in our favor," says Eubanks.
However, Freudenthal denied wild horse advocates' claims that the BLM violated the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
The State of Wyoming and the Rock Springs Grazing Association were interveners in the case, siding with the BLM. All three of those entities say the roundup was authorized and legal.
