Press release from Nevada Livestock Assn.

Nevada - 5/21/02 - Raymond Yowl, rancher, from the South Fork Western Shoshone, Elko County, Nevada, has contacted the Nevada Live Stock Association (NVLSA) providing information that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is stepping up
surveillance of the tribes cattle.

Mr. Yowl believes that the BLM may be "trying to intimidate us by driving
around all day. They may be looking to try and take our cattle right off of
our checkerboard-deeded land and Indian trust lands."

David Holmgren, chairman of NVLSA responded, "I have alerted our directors,
we are going to speak this week with Sheriff Harris of Elko County, we are
speaking with Representatives from Jim Gibbon’s office, and we have sent out
a state-wide alert to be on the lookout for any suspicious BLM activities in
the South Fork area as well as elsewhere in Nevada.

Our policy is no more impoundment; due process and the right to property must
be upheld. The press is being notified."

Recently the BLM has been trying to partner themselves with several groups
such as the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) and the Northern Nevada
Resource Advisory Council (RAC), with mixed success.

The RAC recently toured the Dann sister’s ranch in Eureka County under
heavily armed BLM ranger protection.

A resolution that was voted on the next day by the RAC, was somewhat less
than an endorsement of BLM impoundment.

Of the two Category 1 RAC members from Livestock/Ranching one did not attend
and the other abstained from voting.

Hank Vogler, the Ely, Nevada rancher who did attend said that, "There was no
overwhelming support" for impoundment. The resolution language stated,
"necessary and legally appropriate actions" only. Vogler also said that he
thought the BLM ranger escort, "ridiculous, intimidating, and not needed."

Another member of the RAC was Hudson Glimp, from Category 3, Academic,
University of Nevada Reno who attended the RAC tour and meeting.

Glimp reported that "it was hazy if we even had a quorum present" for voting
on the resolution.

"Only a voice vote was taken," said Glimp.

Other RAC categories with two members each include wild horse & burros,
Public-at-Large, Mineral Development, Environment, Elected Official, and
Native American.

Some members were not present and others were present only for one day of the
two-day meeting.

Both Vogler and Glimp said that the BLM only took them to two specific areas
that had been used by both horses and cattle and that both areas were, as
Vogler pointed out, "where the cattle (and horses) are unnaturally
congregated due to the fencing and a spring."

Vogler also said that, "The cattle I saw were in good shape."

Both men told the NVLSA that the resolution carried no force of law or
endorsement of impoundment actions.

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) held a meeting recently where they
put forth a resolution in Executive Committee regarding impoundment.

The resolution did not approve impoundment of livestock by the BLM.

Language in the resolution said, "Efforts to enforce the law or change the
law should not be based on actions which break the law, including
infringement upon civil rights."

The meeting was somewhat contentious with, "those against impoundment winning
out," said a source.

NVLSA has received information from an individual who refused (at this point)
to be identified that, "The BLM has been dropping off horses by the
semi-loads which they gather in one place and drop off in another, making
money for their contractors and making themselves look like their doing
something about the horse problem."

The source believes that the BLM has been dropping off horses, "on the Dann
sisters or on the adjacent ranch now owned by a mine.

The horses move over the ridge to the Danns.

The Danns are then accused of overgrazing by the BLM."

"This situation, if proven, leads us to the conclusion that the BLM is
purposely creating problems for targeted ranchers," said Holmgren.

In a related statement, Raymond Yowl said that a rancher from Roberts
Mountain had proof that they were dumping horses on him. "Overnight, the
horses showed up there," saidYowl.

The Nevada Live Stock Association is looking into these allegations and will
turn any evidence over to the sheriff(s) and the FBI.

The Nevada Live Stock Association (NVLSA) continues to uphold the right to
have due process of law as specified in the Constitution of the United
States. "The government is to protect the people’s property not be the
rustlers," said Holmgren.

For further information contact: David Holmgren, Chairman NVLSA,
775-530-5313, Raymond Yowl, Western Shoshone, 775-744-4381, Hank Vogler, RAC,
775-591-0404 and Hudson Glimp, RAC, 775-784-4254.

The NVLSA in coordination with the South Fork Indian Reservation, other
interested parties and elected officials will be present at the South Fork
Reservation if any impoundment action is taken by BLM. 

The NVLSA is coordinating an impoundment contingency plan. 

The following are directions to the Shoshone rancher's land where the cattle,
under danger of impoundment, are located:

Directions to Western Shoshone South Fork Reservation:

Beginning at Elko, Nevada, entering from the west on Idaho Street,
turn right (east) onto 12th St.,
take a left onto Lamoille Highway (State Highway 227)
and continue over the Lamoille Summit
to the traffic light/Junction 227/228,
take a right at the junction.
Proceed about 5 to 6 miles
to a sign that says Lower South Fork Recreation Area.
You will now be on deeded/Indian trust lands at this point
and if the BLM is attempting impoundment action
there will be someone there to direct you as to where you need to go.
 

Press release from NEVADA LIVE STOCK ASSOCIATION
PO Box 639
Hawthorne, NV 89415
775 530 5313

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