BLM ready to start roundup

A host of federal employees including Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement and other personnel, National Park Service representatives, private contractors and others have spread out across some 600,000 acres surrounding Mesquite in preparation to impound between 500 and 900 cattle owned by Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy. Kirsten Cannon, BLM Southern District public affairs specialist, said the BLM is withholding the exact number of federal authorities participating in the cattle roundup or the estimated cost of the effort, but Bundy said both are sizable. The BLM has created a command post about six miles south of Mesquite on the north side of Interstate 15 in Toquop Wash, at which BLM law enforcement personnel are blocking access. Federal officers sit in vehicles parked on a gravel turn-out next to I-15 stopping anyone from approaching the “impound village” where there are trucks, trailers, corrals, communication towers and portable lights and more. “It’s not the seizure of Bundy cattle that’s important here,” Bundy told the Desert Valley Times. “It’s the seizure of state sovereignty; in the seizure of state law; it’s the seizure of the land; it’s the seizure of the (Clark County) sheriff’s police power.” Additionally, Bundy said the I-15 location of the BLM compound has created an “extremely dangerous situation for drivers.” “They’re crossing the freeway without any barriers or anything,” Bundy said. “I’m concerned they’re going to get somebody killed on that highway.” The rancher said it was at his insistence that the BLM placed flashing caution signs on I-15 to warn motorists of cross traffic. Wednesday in Monroe, Utah, some 30 picketers protested outside R Livestock Auction that is believed to have contracted with BLM to sell all Bundy impounded cattle. Bundy said the BLM has acknowledged the public’s concern with the roundup. “They are going to let us exercise out First Amendment rights,” he said. “They fenced off two areas where we’re supposed to be able to go an complain.” One area is at the southbound exit to Bunkerville off I-15 and the other is at the intersection of Highway 170 and White Rock Road directly south of downtown Mesquite. “It’s funny though,” Bundy said. “They fenced off that area so we can exercise our First Amendment rights, but there’s no gate; there’s no way to get in.”...more