This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With regards to forcing Bundy's cattle off of supposed "federal land." The alternatives for the BLM are a giant solar power plant for a foreign conglomerate, or perhaps fracking leases for some oil companies. More money is to be made off from gas, oil or solar leases than they can get from the few ranchers they can bully. Our illustrious leadership in Washington will do nothing, since they will get far more donations from these corporations than from a few ranchers.
The BLM is even breaking their own rules. Their own documents note that the area is capable of only handling 400 to 500 wild horses, yet have over 2,000 and they have made no attempt to round them up.
The comments by Democratic Commissioner Collins of Clark County should provoke outrage, but will likely used as punch lines at cocktail parties.
All the while the environmentalist will get the blame. And the tortoise. Don't worry, with the stroke of a pen, they will come off the list when the corporation is ready to move equipment in. This is fascism, folks.
Bruce A. Nieveen
Riverton