The Bureau of Land Management’s Internal “Investigation”: The Fox Guarding the Henhouse

After the many horrific photos and videos of the Antelope HMA wild horse gather being conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contractor, Sun J, the BLM Review Team appointed to do an internal investigation (AKA cover-up) found “no violation by wild horse gather contractor of existing BLM policy and procedures” and Director Bob Abbey called for a “NEW NORMAL” for doing business.

1) The helicopter pilot for Sun J Livestock (owned by John and Jody Holmes of Vernal, Utah) is Josh Hellyer of Sky Aviation (Worland, Wyoming). Sky Aviation does aerial crop spraying and fish planting (the helicopter lifts a container of water containing fish and empties the contents over a lake).

2) The BLM’s report states: “The gather contract solicitation requires that all proposals demonstrate a minimum of 1,500 hours of flying experience in similar projects for the proposed primary and secondary helicopter pilots.” Did Sky Aviation’s helicopter pilot Josh Hellyer have 1,500 hours of flying experience on similar projects? Does hauling equipment or containers of water or aerial crop spraying seem even remotely similar to rounding up wild horses?

Please read the rest of this key report