The Bureau of Land Management's Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Rock Springs Field Office has been the topic of much discussion lately, from government leaders to local wildlife groups. Amidst the discussion, many are preparing for the upcoming meetings hosted by the BLM, and some are hoping for even more time to weigh in.
The only BLM meeting on the RMP taking place in Sweetwater County is scheduled to be in Rock Springs from 3 to 6 p.m. next Wednesday, September 27. This week the BLM announced that the location for the meeting had changed. The meeting will now take place in the ballroom at the Rock Springs Holiday Inn located at 1675 Sunset Drive in Rock Springs.
"These meetings will be an open house, informational format with written comment opportunities for the public," the BLM press release explained.
"The most important thing I can tell the public is go to the hearings and ask the important questions," Sweetwater County Commissioner Mary Thoman said. "'How is this going to affect my job? As well as my hunting and fishing access?' . . . Ask to see the maps that will show the difference between the different alternatives."
Thoman also explained that among the four alternatives, Alternative A would keep things as they are, Alternative B would focus on conservation, Alternative C would focus on resource development, and "Alternative D is the one that we worked on as cooperators with the BLM for 12 years."
While the BLM has chosen Alternative B as the "preferred alternative," Thoman pointed out that it the RMP is still in the draft stage, which is why the public comment period is important.
"This does not mean it's a done deal," Thoman said of the BLM choosing a preferred alternative. "It means that we have a 90-day comment period, or more if we can get an extension of time."
The 90-day public comment period began on August 18 and is set to conclude November 16.
For many, this isn't enough time.
"What has become very apparent is that the 90-day comment period is not enough for us or anybody else to review it properly and provide meaningful, substantive comments on behalf of Sweetwater County," Commissioner Island Richard said during Tuesday's meeting.
The Sweetwater Board of County Commissioners voted to approve the sending of a letter requesting a 120-day extension of the comment period.
Wyoming House District 39 Represetative Cody Wylie also spoke to the commissioners during the public comment section of Tuesday's meeting, explaining that members of the Wyoming Legislature will be asking for more time to comment on the RMP draft.
"There will be a letter drafted in support for an extension on the time period for the public comment on the upcoming RMP," Wylie explained. "That's going to be signed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate. There will also be a similar letter drafted and signed by multiple representatives and senators."
"I'd also encourage every board, organization, any individual out there that's concerned about this process to make that same request to the BLM," Commissioner Richards said.
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