Ranchers in Wyoming have slammed proposals to turn more than 1.3million acres of land into conservation areas amid fears it could decimate their livelihoods.
Farmers warned the plans could be more destructive than ‘pearl harbor, the civil war and 9/11 combined’.
The proposals from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concern the Rock Springs Management Area, a swathe of land encompassing the Red Desert, as well as the renowned hunting grounds of the Greater Little Mountain Area.
But critics say the plans could lock out hunters, as well as restrict farming, energy development and mining – effectively rendering the area ‘no longer for human use’.
Now Republican Governor Mark Gordon has announced he is exploring Wyoming’s options for taking legal action against the Biden administration sanctioned plan.
Lifelong rancher and Wyoming Rep. Bill Alleman has warned the proposals could have catastrophic impacts for farmers in the state
A plan from the Bureau of Land Management outlines plans for the protected areas
The BLM has already admitted the ‘preferred’ option from its $9 million draft is one where ‘socioeconomic impacts would be largest’, due to the substantial changes to land use.
It would mean 1.6 million acres of land in total end up designated as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, slashing more than 7,600 acres of available grazing land and reducing ‘flexibility for live stock management’.
Ranch owner and Wyoming Rep Allen Slagle said the loss is ‘enough to take out entire ranches from having any grazing’.
The Republican said: ‘I have one whole pasture that if they took it up it would take most of my winter grazing away. That’s really a critical thing.’
Republican Rep Bill Allemand, whose family have owned a ranch for generations, blasted the plans as part of Biden’s 30×30 agenda.
The scheme seeks to conserve 30 per cent of US land and oceans by 2030 but has been dubbed a ‘land grab’ by politicians.
Among them are 15 Republican governors who have written to the President with concern over efforts to ‘to enlarge the federal estate or further restrict the use of public lands in our states’.
Allemand said: ‘This is probably the biggest disaster in the history of the United States, affecting more people than the Civil War, Pearl Harbor or 9/11 combined. I urge everyone to call the governor and stop this state-killing BLM plan.’
Hunters could also be barred from much of the area, according to hunting guide Rep John Winters, due to plans to limit off-road vehicle use to designated trails, among other restrictions.
He there would be ‘significant impact’ to hunting and the recreation industry in the Cowboy State.
Ranch owners and Wyoming representatives Allen Slagle (left) and Chip Neiman (right) have urged Wyoming residents to contact the governor to oppose the plans
The Bureau of Land Management, overseen by Tracy Manning-Stone (pictured), has invited the public to comment on the proposals which are being posed as one of four options for the area
Winters added: ‘It will severely curtail access, even to residents […] if it is designated wilderness no motorized vehicles will be allowed.’
Most significant would be a heavy clampdown on mineral extraction. More than 2.5 million acres would be closed to mineral material sales and almost two million acres could be pursued for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, according to the report.
Rep Chip Neiman, a rancher from Crook County, branded the plans ‘an absolute full-on effort to completely disallow the use of land’.
He added: ‘You might as well have just stamped on “No longer for human use” on these lands. We know that’s not functional that’s not practical. We the people of Wyoming need to rise up and stand against this and support for our industries.’
The Wyoming Stockgrowers Association has also called for BLM to withdraw its plans and draw up a new alternative.
Executive director Jim Magagna, told The Fence Post that the proposed amount of ACECs is unprecedented.
He said: ‘In the past, it’s been used for small areas that have really unique characteristics and they’re applying it to half of the Rock Springs Management Area, 1.56 million acres of ACEC and that literally puts everything at risk.
‘It means no energy development, renewable or fossil fuel, either one and no mining.’
Partof this $19.5 million ranch falls within the boundary of the Rock Springs Management Area, which stretches across Lincoln, Sweetwater, Uinta, Sublette and Fremont counties in southwest Wyoming
Supporters of the plans argue that the ACECs would provide vital protection for wildlife.
Alec Underwood, program director of Wyoming Outdoor Council, said: ‘With its strong protections for wildlife, cultural values, wide-open spaces, and recreation, there’s a lot to be excited about in the draft.’
The BLM, headed by Tracy Stone-Manning, began a 90-day public consultation on the proposals which lasts until November 16.
It said in a statement: ‘The purpose of the land use plan is to establish guidance, objectives, policies, and management actions for public lands administered by the Rock Springs Field Office.
‘The plan is comprehensive and will resolve and address issues within the RSFO jurisdictional boundaries which are identified through agency, interagency and public scoping efforts.
‘The BLM strives for a balance of opportunities to use and develop BLM-administered resources within the planning area, while promoting environmental conservation.’