Wyoming state agencies have taken the next step in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) continuing Rock Springs Resource Management Planning (RMP) process. Governor Mark Gordon announced that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and Wyoming State Parks submitted protest packages to the BLM.
These protests represent an effort to correct a planning effort gone awry. Protests are a standard part of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process. They are extremely important in addressing issues raised by state agencies in their comments on the draft RMP which were not carried forward to the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), released August 23rd. This is the final opportunity for those who previously commented on the draft RMP to provide critical input before the Record of Decision (ROD) is finalized. The BLM Director is required to respond to these protests, and a Protest Resolution Report will be published by the BLM in the near future.
Those who commented on the draft RMP had 30 days to file a protest with the BLM. This time period runs concurrently with the 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review, which Governor Gordon will submit and release in late October. The protest letters from the various agencies may be accessed here.
The BLM released the proposed RMP on August 23, 2024, which began a 30-day protest period and a 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review. The BLM will consider public comments and feedback from the Governor, then make final changes and release the final RMP and record of decision in the fall.
The RMP is intended to establish guidance, policies, objectives, and management actions for the public lands managed by the BLM Rock Springs Field Office. The BLM’s goal is to balance the use and development of resources with environmental conservation.
Some of the issues the RMP addresses include:
- Improving and protecting wildlife and sensitive plant and animal habitats
- Improving riparian areas
- Improving water quality
- Protecting cultural resources
- Providing opportunities for recreation
- Addressing the impacts of climate change
- Strengthening relationships with Tribal Nations
