Study of federal lands proceeds through Wyoming House

A House committee cleared a bill Monday that would require the state to study management of federally owned lands. Several lawmakers who support Senate File 56 acknowledged they have received email from the public – in particular sportsmen groups – in opposition to the bill, but they think the public misunderstands the point of the bill. “It’s pretty controversial, Mr. Chairman, I will tell you that,” Sen. Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, said while presenting the bill to the House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there.” A recent Colorado College poll suggested Wyomingites are split on whether federal lands should be managed by federal interests. Bebout said the study doesn’t presume the state would obtain ownership of the lands from the feds and/or sell them off to the privileged few who would cut off access for hunting and fishing. The study only looks into management, he said. The federal government takes years to permit oil, gas and mining operations, Bebout said. The permitting process is so long that market conditions change and projects are abandoned...more