BLM Makes Peace With Horse-Lovers, Scraps Environmental Assessment of Meadowood Barn

The Bureau of Land Management's long-awaited decision on the Environmental Assessment for the aging stables at its The Stables At the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area has been scrapped. 

The decision to seek alternative development options was revealed to the public Monday morning at the office of Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland, who hosted U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), BLM executives, barn manager Allison Mills and barn supporters. 

"We've looked at the coming fiscal reality and determined that those three options in the EA (Environmental Assessment) are not enough," said BLM spokesman Bob Gillcash. "Hopefully we are no longer contained to option A, B or C. We're really looking for D, E, F and G, maybe H. We want to make sure we have the greatest available menu of options from which to choose."

• See BLM Releases Meadowood Barn Environmental Assessment

The immediate fixes needed for the 1970s-era barn are:

• Improving ventilation 
• Elminating immediate fire hazards
• Barn door replacement  

Most at the meeting were pleased with recent developments — namely that BLM and Mills ended their contracting agreement and that Mills recently signed a one-year lease to manage the barn and allow 30 horses at the barn. Once the lease is concluded, it will will be continued on a month-by-month basis. 

Mills' previous contract limited the number of horses allowed on the property to 15, as the Bureau ironed out decisions on future barn renovations.

Until two weeks ago, Mills was down to 15 horses at the barn and her business struggled to survive. 

"I'm delighted by the outcome, and that all groups are working together for a better Meadowood," Mills told Patch. 

• See Meadowood Barn: BLM Lease Agreement Allows 30 Boarded Horses

"This has been a long road — almost three years," said boarder Lynn Taylor.

Rep. Moran and Supervisor Hyland were credited by those at the meeting for the new contractual arrangement.  

"The current operator (Mills) will continue for the next year, and over that period of time, we will receive proposals fror long-term operations," said Moran. "The idea is that BLM will pay for major repairs, the stable operator will pay for minor repairs, but in terms of major renovation and construction... the design and construction is still subject to what the bidders propose to do." 

• See Moran Threatens to Cut BLM Funding Over Meadowood Stables Issue

Hyland was pleased with developments. "I know it's been a difficult process with some angst, but it's wonderful to see everyone working together to find a solution that I think everyone can support," he said.  

The draft EA was released last May, and the fate of the barn was uncertain.

• See 

"I too agree that this has been a good process," said John Lyons, director of BLM's Eastern States office. "There's nothing wrong with passion. There's a lot of passion here, and a lot of good. In community engagement there's a process and way for things to be done. In the government there's a way that we do things.

"Tremendous things go on there (at Meadowood), and we're really proud of it and BLM is proud of it. This process has gotten us to a better place than we were, let's say, a year-and-a-half ago... The negotiation of this lease, I think we all agree, has gotten us to a better place. I congratulate you on us working together as colleagues and being able to come to a good position now." 

Click here to read more from Patch's coverage of The Stables at Meadowood.