EVANSTON — Commissioner Mark Anderson was absent and excused during the Tuesday, Oct. 17 Uinta County Commission meeting. Brent Hatch assumed the role of chairman.

The two commissioners in attendance, Hatch and Eric South, discussed the current hot-button topic of the recent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) regarding the use of public lands, namely how it will impact recreation, grazing rights and the energy resource industry. 

Two letters, authored by Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson Kallas and Bridger Valley rancher Carl Larson, requesting deferment and/or complete withdrawal of the RMP that would affect primarily neighboring Sweetwater County, with more indirect conflicts affecting Uinta County, were submitted for the commissioners’ endorsement.

“While most of the physical resources currently at issue are contained within Sweetwater’s boundaries, Uinta County provides for labor, storage and other resources key to the industries at issue,” Kallas’ letter acknowledged.

Her letter was addressed to Washington D.C.’s BLM Agency Director Tracy Stone-Manning, while Larson’s was submitted to BLM Field Office Manager Kimberly Foster in Rock Springs.

“Funding derived from mineral exploration and development, grazing, agriculture, recreation, and tourism, constitutes a significant portion of the revenue used to pay for essential services ... any curtailment of leasing and development activity significantly impacts the socio-economics of the communities and eliminates a critical funding stream for not just Uinta County, but all counties, the State of Wyoming and its residents,” Kallas argued.

She implored the BLM to withdraw its proposal in its entirety, and suggested more inclusive interface going forward.

“Communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal agencies is vital ... furthermore, the County strongly urges the BLM to review all of the local county natural resource plans (Fremont, Lincoln, Sweetwater and Sublette) affected by this decision and coordinate with the state and local county cooperating agencies that work, recreate and earn a livelihood in this area. Only then can the agency develop a preferred alternative that is consistent with those local plans as allowed by law and provides for a balance between conservation and protection of economic growth.”

Larson’s letter asserted that both the RMP and the DEIS were inherently biased, against livestock grazing in particular. He cited examples of proposed grazing prohibition in several locations such as big game parturition habitats, the Mellor Mountain area that intersects Sage Creek, Jane’s Meadow and upper creek pastures within the Sugarloaf allotment, and the Red Creek allotment.

Larson also mentioned concerns about the proposal’s restrictions regarding predator control.

Hatch voiced his support behind the letters’ contents, and said he felt the issue was pressing enough to enact official county backing. He and South passed the motion to attach Uinta County and their names to the letters.

Uinta County Public Health Nurse Manager ReaAnna Peltier discussed a grant acceptance and agreement between the county and the Wyoming Department of Health regarding $73,315. She further requested a change of hours necessary for recruitment and retention purposes, and for training and strengthening the current planning, processes and policies.

Peltier specifically asked to close the doors to the public for one half-day each month, likely on a Tuesday, and for a single full day during the summer. The commissioners approved of both the proposed use of the grant funds and the change of hours.

Darby Noorda, administrative assistant of Planning and Zoning, requested the rezoning of T&D subdivision from industrial to business industrial, and the vertical reconfiguration of two currently-horizontal 4.4 acres lots in Austin Hills No. 3 subdivision. Both resolutions passed.