Federal land

The U.S. Forest Service announced revisions to its oil and gas leasing rules on Tuesday that the agency promises “modernizes and streamlines” the permitting process to drill for fossil fuels in the nation’s forests and grasslands.

Wyoming is faced with a tale as old as time: balancing multiple interests on public land. The state is poised to protect a threatened pronghorn herd, but federal directives for Unleashing American Energy could get in the way.

The panel included Wyoming and Montana governors. They cheered Trump’s rollback of environmental oversight, adding that more can be done.

Wyoming lawmakers fear financial fallout from federal breaks to coal.

The Trump administration wants to open up millions of acres of national forest lands to new roads and development, including 3.2 million in Wyoming. Public comment on the proposal is open, but only for about a third of the usual amount of time.

Many in Wyoming are celebrating that a Republican-backed proposal to sell federal public land for housing development in 11 states is dead, – for now.

Wyoming’s Governor and Congressional representative voiced support for the proposal, which now excludes national forests but still offers up BLM parcels for housing. Meanwhile, residents are planning a statewide protest.

A Republican representative from the Mountain West led an effort Wednesday to remove a controversial provision to sell 450,000 acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah from the House reconciliation bill.

Last week, President elect Donald Trump nominated North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to head up the Department of the Interior – which includes the Bureau of Land Management. Wyoming’s Governor Mark Gordon said this is great for the Cowboy State’s economic interests.

The federal government’s plan for managing a large chunk of land in southwest Wyoming is going through its final edits. And whether or not they reflect Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon’s latest feedback will likely shape any future litigation.