Wyoming leadership pushes back on “draconian” federal RMP

Johnson County Commission Chairman and President of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA) Bill Novotny is encouraging citizens of Wyoming to comment on the Beauru of Land Management’s (BLM) Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). 

Novotny brought the public up to speed on the situation during a recent appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse. 

WCCA President / Commissioner B. Novotny

According to the WCCA President, the Sweetwater County Commissioners worked to ensure the RMP continued exploration and production of trona and other critical minerals as well as preserving the 1.8 million acres for use by hunters, anglers and recreationalists.  

But according to Novotny, the BLM made the choice to ignore input and disregarded the work and efforts from local stakeholders in the alternative RMPs the agency has presented.

Made available to the public on Aug. 18, the BLM presented four RMP alternative plans. According to the federal agency, Alternative B, – the BLM preferred alternative – emphasizes conservation of resource values with constraints on resource uses. Relative to all alternatives, Alternative B conserves the most public lands for physical, biological, and cultural resources.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon called for the withdrawal of the plan. In a joint press release, Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (both-R) called the RMPs a “blatant land grab” and a “misguided decision”, respectively. Novotny calls it “draconian.”

WCCA President / Commissioner B. Novotny

As president of the WCCA, Novotny sent a letter to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning in Washington D.C. also requesting the withdrawal of the plan, not only as a sign of solidarity with the Sweetwater board of commissioners but to pushback against the BLM from possibly setting a new precedent.  

WCCA President / Commissioner B. Novotny

In response to the pushback from Wyoming’s leadership, the BLM extended the current comment period on the Rock Springs RMP and EIS for an additional 60 days, now ending on Jan. 17, 2024.

Cowboy State Daily reported on an effort led by Wyoming Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman to block the controversial Rock Springs RMP, which gained traction Thursday when the U.S. House passed her amendment to that effect.

Novotny and other leadership of the Cowboy State are continuing to call on the public to review the plan for themselves and leave comments for the BLM, which can be done by clicking here.