Meadowood Barn Renovation Impacted By Sequestration (BLM owns horse stables?)

It’s not square one, but the long-awaited renovation of the horse stables at Lorton’s Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area will take longer to get off the ground than expected. The Bureau of Land Management, which owns the property, has been impacted by federal sequestration and the previously allotted $800,000 for the project is in question.  BLM has scrapped the Environmental Assessment of the barn, and in the meantime plans to make improvements to the septic, water and electrical systems. There is $200,000 available for these improvements. A contractor is currently conducting a feasibility study for future barn operations, followed by a new environmental assessment. The feasibility study is expected to be finished by the end of this year...more

The BLM really has problems with horses, don't they.  

At first I thought this would be about wild horses; but no, BLM owns the property near Lorton, Va. and leases it out:

In April, barn manager Allison Mills signed a one-year lease that will be continued on a month-by-month basis when it expires on March 31, 2014. Mills’ previous contract limited the number of horses allowed on the property to 15, and while her new agreement allows 30 horses, the number of horses living at the barn remains at 15.

So what, exactly is this place.  This website says:

The Stables at Meadowood, managed by Allison Mills, CAS Company Management Services, LLC, offers horse boarding and riding lessons. The equestrian facility is located on the Bureau of Land Management's Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area.  It includes an indoor riding arena, and outdoor riding arena with jumps, a round-pen, two wash stalls, a farrier shed, and miles of beautiful trails at Meadowood and in the adjacent Pohick Regional Park.

Yes, you can go on federal land and board your horse, get riding lessons, etc.  Why is BLM in this business?  BLM's  has a website Q&A which says:

BLM acquired the Meadowood property in 2001 through a land exchange with lands that were part of the former Lorton prison complex. In addition to 800 acres, the property contained a 30+ year old horse stable with related structures. At the time of acquisition, the stable housed only privately-owned, boarded horses.

If ever there was a piece of federal property that should be disposed of, this is it.  If they can't stomach disposing the 800 acres, at least sell the acreage containing the stables and surrounding facilities.  That would save us the $800,000 that may or may not be sequestered, plus the $200,000 for improvements and whatever else they are spending.  Then add to that the revenue generated from the sale.

On my 1st tour of duty in D.C. I lived near the Lorton Prison and commuted.  Congressman or there staff could easily inspect the place.  Or is that the problem?  Wonder who is stabling their horses there?

One other thing:  If it wasn't for sequestration we wouldn't know about this.  Let's hope Congress has the guts to hold tough on the budget.  If they do, no telling what we'll find.

In the meantime, follow the lead of the Forest Service:

Forest Service parcels fetch $7.01 million at auction