ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — On Thursday, Aug. 22, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming state office released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) for more than 3.6 million acres of public land and 3.5 million acres of public subsurface minerals in southwestern Wyoming.
The proposed Rock Springs RMP will determine how this land is administered for the next 20 years.
The Rock Springs Field Office oversees the management of this land which is rich in wildlife habitat, rangeland and natural resources. This area includes land used for off-road recreation, oil and gas development, livestock grazing, winter range for mule deer, vast open spaces for pronghorn, Greater sage-grouse populations and more. The Rock Springs planning area includes surface land and BLM-administered mineral estate in portions of Lincoln, Sweetwater, Uinta, Sublette and Fremont counties.
After receiving over 35,000 public comments and recommendations from the Governor’s task force — composed of representatives from local governments, industries, sportsmen, conservation groups and more — the plan was drafted into a more balanced approach between resource development and habitat conservation, according to BLM Wyoming Lead Public Affairs Specialist Micky Fisher.
“We sincerely appreciate the public engaging with us to help shape this Resource Management Plan,” Fisher told Buckrail. “The feedback received thus far has allowed the BLM to make crucial adjustments to the plan. The Rock Springs Field Office strives for a balance of opportunities to use and develop BLM-administered lands and resources within the planning area, all while conserving the area’s cultural, scenic and natural heritage.”
Formally know as the Green River Plan, the RMP has not been revised since 1997. Since the signing of the plan 26 years ago, emerging issues and management concerns with renewable energy and oil, gas or hydrogen pipeline corridors has resulted in the need to revise the existing resource management plan, according to the BLM. The proposed RMP provides a more comprehensive framework for allocating resources, while addressing growing pressures from increased visitation and a changing climate.
The agency opened a 30 day public protest period on the EIS and RMP on Friday, Aug. 23. For information on how to submit a protest and to view the documents for the Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, visit the BLM National NEPA Register.
