2022 WCCA Fall Meeting at the WACO Conference: Agriculture, Water, State & Public Lands, and Energy and Environment Committees Meeting

2022 WCCA Fall Meeting at the WACO Conference: Agriculture, Water, State & Public Lands, and Energy and Environment Committees Meeting

September 28

CAM-PLEX Wyoming Center

Gillette, Wyoming

Roll Call: Lloyd Thiel, Dru Palmer, Terry Wolf, Colleen Faber, Robert Short, John Espy, Jeanne Whalen, Tony Lehner, Dave North, Mary Thoman, Joel Bousman, Sam White, Lonnie Wright, Fred Devish, Lee Livingston, and Pat Wade.

Approval of the September 22, 2021 minutes.

Commissioner Wolf gave a WOTUS Roundtable update regarding the 10th and final roundtable that was held in Boise, ID. The Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana commissioner associations hosted the meeting. There was a robust discussion held with the EPA and Army Corp of Engineers on how a revised rule could negatively affect western states. The EPA and Corp were invited to the NACo conference in Denver and they came and participated in the EELU committee meeting. Micah Christensen and Commissioner Wolf spoke with them and they agreed to meet with WCCA during a future meeting/meetings which is to be determined.

Bozeman Trail Legislation: Commissioner Espy brought of up the topic regarding the Secretary of Interior to undertake a feasibility and suitability study of the Bozeman Trail for designation as a National Historic Trail. Dru Palmer (representing Converse County) discussed the negative impacts of what would happen if it was designated as a National Historic Trail. Commissioner Espy added some additional negative impacts. Discussion was held on sending a letter to the Congressional Delegation opposing the designation of the Bozeman Trail as a National Historic Trail. Moved by Commissioner Lehner and seconded by Commissioner North. Motion carried.

Senator Boner gave a wild horse and burros management update. House Bill 5 was discussed regarding damages, suitable numbers to reduce the over populations of the animals, and working with Tribal and Federal partners.

Commissioner Bell discussed the topic of re-purposing of industrial sites. He would like to see the infrastructure inside some industrial sites to be re-purposed under mine reclamation plans instead of reclaiming back to bare ground and sagebrush. They looking for ways to streamline this because they are more valuable to the state in the current condition.

Justin Loyka with the Nature Conservancy discussed with the committees the Brightfields

Sighting Initiative (BESI). It deals with energy transmission across the western states. Wind and solar will take up a lot of landscape. It is expected that there will be a 10% build out in the 11 western states by 2050. A GIS map tool was made with various agencies to see which areas would have high to low impacts across the landscapes to help assist with future development. The tool is available at Nature.org/besimap and Wyoenergy.org/news.

Tori Teegarden, legislative assistant to Senator Barrasso, gave a WPLI update. It has been tough right now to get any land legislation through the senate. The legislation is not going anywhere at the moment.

Discussion was held on a Federal Partner Day / NEPA Training by Micah Christensen. The

committees were supportive of hosting a partner day sometime next spring. There will be

further planning to take place and Commissioners Thoman, Espy, and Short will be on a

subcommittee.

The meeting was adjourned at 1647 hours.

Submitted,

Commissioner Wolf