The Resource Management Plan for the Rock Springs area that has been hotly resisted by local leaders and Wyoming residents for years, has been finalized by the Bureau of Land Management. The Record of Decision was signed and released on Friday and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon immediately responded with his plans to continue in opposition, though an act of Congress may be the only option available to overturn the BLM’s decision. Following Friday’s decision, Governor Gordon issued a statement, saying in part, “While it is not surprising that Wyoming’s comments were figuratively dumped in the trash, it is disappointing that 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.” The BLM has other Resource Management Plans in the works, including in northeastern Utah, and Friday’s decision for southern Wyoming begs the question of what is to come.
