WCCA Letter Asks Withdrawal of Draft EIS for Rock Springs RMP Revision

The Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA) has issued a letter to Tracy Stone-Manning, Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) asking

them to withdraw their draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and its Preferred Alternative for the draft Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP) and to reconsider the alternatives developed with cooperating agencies and the local field office.

According to the letter, “the BLM’s August 17 announcement of its draft EIS and RMP for the 3.6 million surface acres and 3.7 million mineral acres across five Wyoming counties does not reflect a cooperative work product.”

The letter further explains the lack of cooperation is illustrated by the BLM’s termination of cooperating agency meetings for almost two years prior to the release of the draft documents.

The WCCA letter also claims the documents contain obsolete data, ignore approved county natural resource plans, and contain sections referencing decisions the BLM now suggest were inadvertently included.

According to an earlier Sheridan Media story, “the purpose of the land use plan is to establish guidance, objectives, policies, and management actions for public lands administered by the Rock Springs Field Office (RSFO). The plan is comprehensive and will resolve and address issues that are identified through agency, inter-agency and public input, according to the BLM.”

The BLM has extended the public comment period though January 17, 2024.

To read the full WCCA letter to the BLM, scroll down the page.

Link to the BLM website:

https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/13853/510

Dear Director Stone-Manning,

On behalf of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (“WCCA”), an organization representing the Boards of County Commissioners for all twenty-three of Wyoming’s counties, we request the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) withdraw its draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) and its Preferred Alternative for the draft Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (“RMP”) and reconsider the alternatives developed with cooperating agencies and the local field office.

To be clear, the WCCA understands that the power resides with the BLM to select a Preferred Alternative under the National Environmental Policy Act (”NEPA”). However, Wyoming counties also understand the power of cooperation necessary to create positive and durable land management decisions. This cooperation undergirds the entire NEPA process and is why our counties are so committed to working with the BLM to help develop sound management provisions for the lands within our communities where we live, work, and recreate.

The BLM’s August 17, 2023, announcement of its draft EIS and RMP for 3.6 million surface acres and 3. 7 million mineral acres across five Wyoming counties does not reflect a cooperative work product. The lack of cooperation may be best illustrated by the BLM’s termination of cooperating agency meetings for nearly two years prior to the release of the draft documents. Further, the absence of cooperation is reflected throughout the documents, which contain obsolete data, ignore approved county natural resource plans, and contain sections that reference decisions that the BLM now suggests were inadvertently included.

In a traditional cooperating agency process, local governments would have been given an opportunity to meaningfully review an administrative draft with the BLM prior to its release to the public. This final review allows cooperators to express concerns about data, assess consistency with local plans, confusion over management provisions, questions about implementation, clarity on socio-economic impacts and allows the BLM an opportunity to rectify any errors or omissions. One change that is not typically made during an administrative draft review is a wholesale pivot to a different preferred alternative, especially without any notice to cooperating agencies.

It is quite a paradox that the draft Rock Springs RMP that took over 12 years to complete could be so hastily concluded. So hasty in fact, that the BLM failed to inform cooperating agencies that the draft documents were being released prior to their public issuance. Ultimately, the BLM’s approach demonstrates a general disdain towards cooperating agencies and the BLM’s preferred alternative reflects a predisposition toward preservation over adherence to the BLM’s multiple use mandate and its critical role supporting our communities while conserving resources. The BLM can and should do better.

The WCCA respectfully requests that the BLM withdraw its preferred alternative and return to the spirit of cooperation necessary for durable land management. Through cooperation we have made substantial gains for the prosperity of the people in our communities and the environment on a landscape scale, regardless of management authority. This draft undermines our progress and will substantially hamstring future partnerships.

The WCCA reiterates the disappointment expressed in Wyoming Governor, Mark Gordon’s September 26, 2023, letter, and requests the BLM respond to our letter no later than October 17, 2023.

Bill Novotny,

President Wyoming County Commissioners Association

Johnson County Commissioner