Designated Wilderness & Wilderness Study Areas in Wyoming
The Federal Lands Policy and Management Act of 1976 required that federal lands be inventoried for areas with “wilderness characteristics.” After identifying these “study areas”, the law dictated that the Department of Interior issue a report recommending the study areas either for designation as wilderness, or for release to a multiple use mandate. Congress, with sole authority to declare wilderness or release these WSAs, has not acted on agency recommendations, and those recommendations may no longer reflect the state of wilderness character nor accurately identify other resources or values within or adjacent to the 42 BLM WSAs or 3 USFS WSAs.
Additional Resources
Go here to view relevant agency information and WPLI-related third party submissions.
Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Principles and Guidelines
In order to ensure the successful enactment of federal legislation addressing Wyoming WSAs, a consistent statewide approach that maximizes stakeholder involvement, through an open and transparent process, is necessary. County WPLI Advisory Committees will be expected to encompass a broad cross-section of public lands stakeholders. All WPLI participating counties must adhere to this document.
WPLI Advisory Committee Toolbox
WPLI County Advisory Committee members can click on this link to access resources that can help them create and sustain a durable, county-specfic WPLI process.