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BLM releases ROD for Rock Springs RMP

by Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Nearly a year and a half after the publication of its controversial draft resource management plan (RMP) and environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Rock Springs Field Office (RSFO), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed and released a record of decision (ROD) and approved RMP (ARMP) on Dec. 20, 2024. 

The agency’s plan was initially brought to the public’s attention when a draft RMP and EIS were published on Aug. 18, 2023, initiating a 90-day public comment period which was later extended through Jan. 17, 2024 and stirring up opposition across the Cowboy State. 

During this time, the BLM held three in-person public meetings and received more than 35,000 comments. Additionally, Gov. Mark Gordon appointed a task force to develop recommendations on the draft plan. 

According to the BLM, the ARMP will guide multiple-use management of nearly 3.6 million acres of BLM-administered public lands and 3.5 million acres of mineral estate across Lincoln, Sweetwater, Uinta, Sublette and Fremont counties, “balancing responsible resource development, grazing and community use with outdoor recreation, wildlife needs, habitat conservation and cultural resource protection.” 

BLM also claims the ARMP “incorporates input from the governor and state representatives; local governments; the livestock, mining, oil and gas and recreational industries; as well as conservationists, hunters and anglers, utility companies and motorized recreation users.”

However, many in the state disagree with this statement, as they have found little change from the draft publication to the final ruling. Additionally, BLM Principal Deputy Director Nada Culver rejected Gordon’s appeal to his governor’s consistency review shortly after the ROD was signed. 

The ARMP

As required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the BLM analyzed a range of alternatives to guide management decisions on the RSFO’s public lands.

Ultimately, the ARMP adopted a combination of Alternative B, the Conservation Alternative, with Alternative D, the Balanced Alternative, with bits and pieces of the other two alternatives mixed in as well. 

“This approach follows public and cooperators’ comments requesting a mix of alternatives addressing land designations, exclusion areas and potential restrictions on development,” the ROD reads. “The ARMP allows for responsible development of resources while emphasizing protections for wildlife habitat and improved water quality.”

The document further notes, “The ARMP provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the diverse management needs of BLM-administered lands in the decision area and was developed after addressing major concerns from the public, the Governor of Wyoming’s Task Force, BLM staff, local cooperators and Tribes.”

ACECs

According to BLM, these “major concerns” included designations of areas of critical environmental concern (ACEC), special recreation management areas, right-of-way (ROW) exclusion areas and potential restrictions on development. 

Under the ARMP, 12 ACECs totaling 935,135 acres were approved, including the Little Mountain, Greater Sand Dunes, Natural Corrals, Oregon Buttes, Pine Springs, Pinnacles, South Pass Historic Landscape, Special Status Plant Species, Steamboat Mountain, White Mountain Petroglyphs, South Wind River and Big Sandy Opening areas. 

Through their designation as ACECs, these areas “require special management attention to protect identified relevance and importance values,” according to the BLM. 

For example, in order to protect the “significant historic, cultural, paleontological, wildlife and scenic values” of the popular Little Mountain area, BLM will evaluate and modify management of forestry, fire, recreation and livestock grazing activities to improve watershed stability and support sensitive fish and wildlife species in the area.

Additionally, BLM will close the area to fluid mineral leasing, oil shale leasing and coal leasing.

In the Greater Sand Dunes area – a popular location for rock climbing and off-roading – BLM will limit surface-disturbing activities by designating ROW exclusion or avoidance areas for ROW while also restricting mineral and coal sales, leasing and development, oil and gas exploration and development and off-highway vehicle travel.

“Some portions of the Greater Sand Dunes area would consider additional visitor controls, such as retaining Boar’s Tusk as closed to rock climbing and adding fencing or interpretive signs, which would protect sensitive features from degradation and erosion,” the document adds. 

Closures and stipulations

According to the BLM, the ARMP also “resolves concerns on closures and stipulations for future proposed development, most notably on trona, grazing, renewable energy and oil and gas development.”

“Closures are designed to provide resource-specific protections and to support the effectiveness, long-term viability and durability of management goals. Stipulations are designed to provide resource-specific protections,” the agency explains. “These resolutions were proposed to align with similar restrictions in adjacent planning area field offices and to provide clarity and resolve potential conflicts from the draft RMP and EIS.”

While the ARMP addresses a long list of issues in the RSFO, ranging from recreation, grazing, fire and wild horse management to energy and minerals development and air quality, BLM points out four other options initially considered as possible resource management methods were eliminated from the ARMP because they were “ineffective, technically or economically infeasible and/or inconsistent with basic policy objectives.”

These include closure to livestock grazing, closure to fluid mineral leasing, closure to coal leasing and new wild horse and burro herd management areas. 

Opposition

Throughout the entire NEPA planning process for the Rock Springs RMP, BLM has been met with opposition and criticism. 

In a Dec. 23, 2024 Rocket Miner article written by Trina Dennis Brittain, Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Keaton West says, “As expected, the BLM dismissed the governor’s consistency review as well as his repeal. We stand firm this ROD will have detrimental effects to the economy of Sweetwater County and the state of Wyoming. Anyone who thinks the opposite clearly hasn’t read through the entirety of the plan.” 

He continues, “We’ve worked hard to offer input and factual data as a cooperator for many years, but political agenda has become more important than people with boots on the ground, and as such, we’re all left paying the price.”

In a statement published on Dec. 20, 2024 Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) says, “The Biden-Harris administration is issuing yet another misguided and malicious midnight rule on their way out the door. Given Gordon just submitted his review of this plan two days ago, it is clear the Department of the Interior (DOI) did not seriously consider or respond to his concerns.”

Gordon had a similar opinion on the matter, noting he is currently in consultation with the attorney general and will conduct a thorough review of the ROD to determine if it meets conditions set by the Wyoming Legislature in the 2024 Budget Bill.

He comments, “The BLM did everything within its power to push this out the door before President-Elect Donald Trump takes office and their director leaves for a position with an environmental group. While it is not surprising Wyoming’s comments were figuratively dumped in the trash, it is disappointing despite years of collaborative work between state agencies, impacted counties, concerned citizens and interest groups, all Wyoming is left with is this parting shot from the Biden administration.”

“I am absolutely committed to reviewing and pursuing all of the options we have to claw back this misguided ROD. With Trump in office, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum at the head of DOI and a Republican Senate and House, I am confident we will have the ability to finish the job and right a course that has been so far off track over the last four years,” he concludes.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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