Subsidiarity Economics 2024. The times more or less locally, Part 2. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 Edition.

 

Oil field, Grass Creek, Wyo, April 9, 1916

April 16, 2024

The BLM's new oil and gas leasing rules has effectuated new oil and gas leasing rules for the first time since 1988.

The new rules adjust bond amounts for the first time since 1966, increase royalty rates for the first time in over a century (leasing has only been in place for a century). Bond rates will go from $10,000 to $150,000 and state-wide bonding requirement for operators with more than from $25,000 to $500,000.

Governor Gordon criticizes oil and gas rule that raises costs to producers

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –Governor Mark Gordon is criticizing an announcement from the Department of Interior last week that will increase the costs to oil and gas companies seeking to drill on federal lands. The Governor used the following statement:

“If there was any doubt, it could not be more clear now that the Department of Interior has lost its way. Within a day of announcing its renewable energy rule designed to promote the equivalent of a modern-day gold rush of development for renewables by reducing fees and rents on federal lands by 80%, Interior issued an oil and gas rule increasing costs to Wyoming’s industry by 1400%.

America surely needs more energy, including from renewable sources. What our country does not need are policies that greatly reduce the return to our nation’s taxpayers while simultaneously increasing the impacts and burdens on states and communities. We don’t need policies that increase the costs to consumers while also reducing reliability, or rules that sharpen the threat of industrializing our open spaces and crucial wildlife habitat without recognizing the importance of balance in our energy portfolio. These policies should seem misguided to most Americans of every stripe who love our country. Instead of experience and practicality, DOI has doubled down on bias, dogma, and politics. America is suffering as a result.

It is time we get back to common-sense energy policy. I will continue to fight against federal policies that are short-sighted and antagonistic to Wyoming’s industries, our workers, and our way of life. We need to build a realistic, all-of-the-above energy strategy that correctly plans a future of reliable and dispatchable power and properly accounts for – and balances – the costs and impacts of all energy sources.”

April 19, 2024

Tensions in the Middle East have jumped the price of oil back up. 

April 27, 2024

Ur Energy will reopen It's in situ uranium mine and processing plant in Shirley Basin in 2026.

The UAW has entered into a tentative deal with Daimler.

Wyoming is suing the Federal government over a methane rule.

Wyoming Sues Biden Administration Over Costly and Burdensome Methane Rule

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming has joined the states of North Dakota, Montana and Texas in suing the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over a new rule that undermines existing state regulatory programs and harms Wyoming oil and natural gas producers.

The suit was filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota. The rule – commonly known as the “methane waste prevention rule” and released last month – is an attempt by the Department of Interior to re-introduce a similar rule adopted by the Obama Administration in 2016. That rule was previously blocked by a Wyoming federal court.

The new rule requires oil and gas companies to pay royalties on flared gas, driving up costs for producers and resulting in increased costs to consumers, the Governor said.

“This rule is yet another example of the Biden Administration attempting to use rulemaking to undermine state authority and suffocate the oil and gas industry,” Governor Gordon said. “We will continue to defend Wyoming’s interests in court whenever they are under attack by the federal government.”

Governor Gordon has previously pointed out Wyoming is a national leader in regulating methane gas, with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission working cooperatively with oil and gas producers to reduce emissions. The states’ complaint explains that the new rule conflicts with state regulations and in certain instances, creates less stringent standards.

The states’ complaint may be found here.

In a major action, a new EPA rule may actually end coal-fired power plants by 2032. Tom Lubnau on that matter:

Tom Lubnau: EPA Increases Wyoming Industry Political Risk, Again

That would be an epic level change in electrical generation in the United States, although its something we've seen coming for a long time:

Coal: Understanding the time line of an industry

May 9, 2024

There has been a 20% reduction in the demand for Wyoming coal in the first quarter of the year.

May 14, 2024

The US has changed regulation to make construction of high tension lines easier.

The US has banned imports of Russian uranium.

May 16, 2024

Governor Gordon Outraged by BLM’s No Coal Leasing Selection in the Powder River Basin

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon responded forcefully to an announcement by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that it had selected the “No Leasing” alternative in its Buffalo Coal Resource Management Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The BLM’s choice means it is all but determined that coal leasing in the Powder River Basin will not be permitted past 2041. The Governor’s statement follows:

“With this latest barrage in President Joe Biden’s ongoing attack on Wyoming’s coal country and all who depend upon it, he has demonstrated his lack of regard for the environment, for working people, and for reliable, dispatchable energy. This decision, compounded by the recent EPA rules, ensures President Biden’s legacy will be about blackouts and energy poverty for Wyoming’s citizens and beyond. 

All the cards are on the table now. At the highest levels the Biden Administration – including Interior Secretary Haaland – have shown a complete disregard for blue-collar workers and their families; local communities and neighborhood businesses; the aspirations of  local governments and economic development entities; university scientists and others diligently working on viable solutions to climate concerns; as well as the livelihoods of power plant employees and anyone who relies on dependable, affordable, and attainable electricity. 

This SEIS is not about making a well-informed decision. It is about Joe Biden’s partisan, vindictive, and politically motivated war on America’s abundant, cheap, efficient, and consistent energy sources – one that holds practical and achievable goals to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. This administration touts its preference for “best available science” yet only chooses to highlight the science that advances their job- and career-killing agenda.

As Governor, I am profoundly disappointed that our nation’s highest executive leadership has chosen to ignore innovation and opportunity to grovel at the feet of coastal elites. I promise that the State of Wyoming will fully utilize the opportunities available to kill or modify this Record of Decision before it is signed and final. The issues we face globally right now are too important and too urgent to dither away with incoherent policies and wrongheaded initiatives. As with the other attacks on Wyoming’s fossil fuel industries, the Attorney General is actively pursuing options to challenge these destructive decisions.”

-END-

March 17, 2024

Biden admin seeks to end new Powder River coal leases

Last prior edition:

Subsidiarity Economics 2024. The times more or less locally, Part I. And then the day arrived (part two).2020s, 2023, 2024, Agriculture, Alcohol, Coal, Economics, Electrical Power, Petroleum, Sheep, Solar Energy, Subsidiarity, technology, trends, Wind Power, Wyoming's boom and bust economy

Friday, May 16, 1924. Harry Yount.

Harry Yount, sometimes erroneously referred to as Wyoming's first game warden (he wasn't), passed away in Wheatland at age 85.

Yount was from Missouri in 1839 and joined the Union Army during the Civil War, being taken prisoner by the Confederates from whom he escaped.  His escaped from captivity was barefoot and lead to a condition of rheumatism, which left him eligible for benefits for the same when they were first passed in 1890.  After the war, he headed West and engaged in a classic series of Frontier occupations, including bull whacking and buffalo hunting.

In the 1870s he was engaged by the Smithsonian in order to collect taxidermy specimens, and he became a regular member of the Hayden expeditions throughout the decade. During this period, he also took up prospecting.  He was well known enough to be the subject of a newspaper profile in 1877.  Around this time he became a commercial hunter in Wyoming, that still being legal until Wyoming took efforts to outlaw it early in the 20th Century.

In 1880, he was hired at the impressive salary of $1,000 per year to become Yellowstone National Park's first game warden, gamekeeper, or "park ranger" at a time at which the law was enforced in Yellowstone by the U.S. Army.  He occupied the high paying job for fourteen months.  Upon resigning he noted:

I do not think that any one man appointed by the honorable Secretary, and specifically designated as a gamekeeper, is what is needed or can prove effective for certain necessary purposes, but a small and reliable police force of men, employed when needed, during good behavior, and dischargeable for cause by the superintendent of the park, is what is really the most practicable way of seeing that the game is protected from wanton slaughter, the forests from careless use of fire, and the enforcement of all the other laws, rules, and regulations for the protection and improvement of the park.

His resignation seems to have come over a disagreement with the park superintendent, who wanted him to spend more time building roads.

After leaving the Park, he prospected, after a short and unsuccessful stint as a homesteader, in the Laramie Range for almost forty years, a remarkable stint at that occupation.  He took out a marble mining claim and spent his later years there, working also at prospecting right up to the day he died.  He collapsed near the Lutheran Church in Wheatland after walking into town, something he did daily.  He was 85 years old.

Younts Peak near Yellowstone is named after him.  The Park Service gives out the Harry Yount Award, established in 1994, annually to an outstanding ranger employee.

The Soviet children's magazine Murzilka appeared for the first time.

A bill to nationalize British coal mining failed, 264 to 168.

Last prior edition:

Thursday, May 15, 1924. "Patriotism, which is bought and paid for is not patriotism."

1920s, 1924, Calvin Coolidge, It was because of World War One

The 2024 Election, Part XVII. Standing on their feet or crawling on their knees.

April 24, 2024

And, yes, we already have yet another edition.

First, this:

Russo Ukrainian War

The aid bill passed the Senate 79 to 18.  Wyoming's two Senators, who normally would have voted yes, voted no, so they can bow down to the Populist Party.

Mike Johnson, after receiving intelligence briefings on the Russia war in Ukraine and praying about it, reversed his prior position heroically.  Wyoming's two Senators, who undoubtedly are not in favor of Russian winning the war in Ukraine, and who must at least suspect that voting against aid to Ukraine might mean the butchered bodies of American soldiers in Europe next year or the year thereafter, voted against it anyway.

Politicians are rarely held responsible for willfully wrong votes. Cheney was penalized by the voters for doing the right thing, but had the courage to do it anyhow.  Lummis and Barrasso are doing the wrong thing so as to avoid suffering her fate.  When the day comes, and if Russia prevails there's a good chance of it happening, and Russia crosses the Curzon Line, or the Balkan frontier, and the US finds itself obligated by its NATO treaty to defend Europe, assuming that Donald Trump, who hasn't upheld his oath to the Constitution, or his marital vow(s) would honor our treaty obligations, will those Wyoming politicians, who are too old to serve themselves, at least recognize that they have blood on their hands?

Probably not.

Let's look just a little bit on some of the current local races.

Senate

Lummis isn't running for reelection, but Barrasso is.

Barrasso is in political trouble as his opponent, Reid Rasner, who is from the Populist Party, is giving him a real run for the money, or so it seems.  Barrasso, therefore, is running to the right of himself.

No Democrat has announced as of yet.

Wyoming House District 35

NCSD employee Christopher Dresang is running against Rep. Tony Locke, R-Casper, a Freedom Caucus member.  Dresang is a Casper native who is a graduate of the Catholic school system's St. Anthony’s, and then Natrona County High School, Casper College, the University of Wyoming, and Montana State University-Bozeman.  Locke, unlike many Freedom Caucus members, is actually from Wyoming and has a MS in engineering, making him all the more unusual as he's highly educated and yet apparently a populist.

Wyoming House District 56

Jerry Obermeuller, who was a really good legislator, announced last weekend he was not running for reelection and expressed the hope that a Republican (non Populist) did.  

Elissa Campbell announced her run for that seat yesterday.  She's a Wyoming native, unlike the numerous imports that make up the Invader wing of the Freedom Caucus, and she owns a consulting agency in Casper.  She has two BA's, one in Philosophy, one in Environmental Ethics from the University of Wyoming.   The press interview lacked very much useful content, and all we really know is that she's a mammal.  Those who know her, however, feel that she'll be much like Obermeuller in outlook.

Wyoming House District 57

Another Wyoming native, and a former teacher, Julie Jarvis, is running against Jeanette Ward, an Illinois Populist who the Wyoming Education Association has been taking on, and a prominent member of the Invader wing.  Ward is amongst the most extreme in every fashion of the Populist, and was an extreme school board member in her native state of Illinois.  Ward has managed to keep her patrim fairly quiet, so nobody has every really looked at it much, even though her presentation alone has a fish out of war element to it.  Jarvis is Wyoming Basque from Buffalo, and came out swinging against her.

This promises to be an interesting race as every Basque I've ever known was really smart and extremely feisty.  Jarvis grew up, it might be noted, in a farming family. What kind of family Ward grew up in is a mystery.

April 30, 2024

Wyoming House District 34

Freedom Caucus member Rep. Pepper Ottman will face rancher, businessman and conservationist Reg Phillips in the primary election.

Presidential Campaign.

In a semi amusing story, I've been watching some Democrats like Robert Reich be absolutely hysterical about the Robert F. Kennedy race all season long, as they insisted that Kennedy was a Trump funded effort to draw Democratic votes away from Biden. The same logic, I'd note, applied to the No Labels effort which failed.  In both instances, it always seemed to me that these efforts would draw votes away from Trump, not Biden.

Well, turns out, I'm right.  In recent polls, the RFK campaign is drawing Trump voters.  Well, of course it would.  It features at lease one of the goofball populist elements, anti vaccines, without the boatload of moral sludge that comes out of a box of Trump Toasties.  There's really nothing in the RFK effort that would draw Biden voters.  There's quite a lot that might draw Trump voters who otherwise don't quite like the smell of Trump.  Now, reportedly, he's targeting Trump voters.

He stands no chance of winning.  But in the general election, while he'll draw some voters from Biden as well, it's really those who would otherwise feel compelled to vote for Trump that are attracted to him.  And there are no doubt still a surprising number of voters who aren't Democrats, but don't like Trump, but otherwise would feel compelled to vote for Trump.

May 7, 2024

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has endorsed Joe Biden, stating that Trump has no moral compass.

Meanwhile, Trump, in trial in New York, seems to be cruising to be jailed for contempt of court if his current conduct keeps up.

Wyoming House District 42

Rob Geringer, s running for the state House against incumbent Freedom Caucus member Ben Hornok, stating that Wyoming's Republicans are losing their supermajoirty advantages by focusing on small differences.

Geringer is the son of the former Governor by that name.

May 9, 2024

Wyoming County Clerk's acting pursuant to requirements of the law purged 83,000 voters from the rolls, eliminating those who did not vote in the 2022 general election.

Wyoming, acting out of an imaginary fear of voter fraud where it doesn't exist, has eliminated same day registration, which means that a lot of those 83,000 that will show up to cast their votes this fall or this summer will be told to pound sand.

The Deadline to Register To Vote in the Primary is May 15.

Lots of people will ignore that.  A lot of them will then bizarrely blame the Democrats.

Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has indicated he won't vote for Donald Trump, and is going to write in a Republican.

May 10, 2024

Donald Trump reportedly asked for 1B for his campaign.  His campaign is noting that no quid pro quo was asked for.

May 11, 2024

Barron Trump, age 18, has declined to be a RNC delegate.

May 12, 2024

Christie Neom has been banned from two more South Dakota tribes meaning she's been banned from 20% of the landmass of her state.

RFK Jr, who previously was in favor of no restrictions on abortions, has changed his position to oppose abortion of viable infants, which is still a bloody position.

May 15, 2024

The largest Hispanic organization in the US, UnidosUS, has endorsed Joe Biden.

Recent related threads:

Not a profile in courage.

Last prior edition:

The 2024 Election, Part XVI. The Compromised Morals Edition

Tuesday, May 13, 1924. Conventions wrap up.

The 1924 Wyoming Republican and Democratic conventions ended and chose their candidates.

The GOP chose Calvin Coolidge, and the Democrats Wyoming Senator John B. Kendrick.

The Kendrick decision proved to be a non-starter.  He'd receive no support at all at that year's Democratic national convention.

Last prior edition:

Monday, May 12, 1924. Final filly wins the Preakness.

1920s, 1924, France, German Weimar Republic, Horse Racing, USSR

The 2026 Election, 1st Edition: Spring Training Edition.

Walter "Big Train" Johnson, April 11, 1924.

Yes, the 2024 Election hasn't even occured yet, and the 2026 one is clearly on, at least locally.

What we can tell for sure is that Chuck Gray is running for the office of Governor.  He always was.  The Secretary of State's office was very clearly a mere stepping stone in that plan, and the plan probably goes on from there.   By coming to Wyoming, a state with a low population and a pronounced history of electing out of staters (we nearly have some sort of personality problem in that regard), it was a good bet, particularly when combined with his family money, although it was never a sure bet that he'd make the legislature and on from there.  His plan requires, however, or at least he seemingly believes it requires, that he keep his name in the news, which he's worked hard to do, being involved in lawsuits, which is probably unconstitutional on his part, and releasing press releases that are extraordinary for his role, and for the invective language they contain.  Mr. Gray has probably used the term "radical leftists" more in his two years of office than all of the prior Wyoming Secretaries of State combined.

This explains something that was otherwise a bit odd that we noticed recently, which was Secretary Gray's appearance in Casper in opposition of something he'd otherwise voted for:

Cliffnotes of the Zeitgeist, 63d Edition. Strange Bedfellows.

 

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

William Shakespeare, The Tempest

The environmental populists?

Politics, as they say, makes for strange bedfellows.  But how strange, nonetheless still surprises.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who rose to that position by pitching to the populist far right, which dominates the politics of the GOP right now, and which appears to be on the verge of bringing the party down nationally, has tacked in the wind in a very surprising direction.  He appeared this past week at a meeting in Natrona County to oppose a proposed gravel pit project at the foot of Casper Mountain.  He actually pitched for the upset residents in the area to mobilize and take their fight to Cheyenne, stating:

We have a very delicate ecosystem, the fragility up there, the fragility of the flows … the proximity to domestic water uses. All of those things should have led to a distinct treatment by the Office of State Lands, and that did not happen.

I am, frankly, stunned.  

I frankly never really expected Mr. Gray to darken visage of the Pole Stripper monument on the east side of Casper's gateway, which you pass by on the road in from Cheyenne again, as he's not from here and doesn't really have a very strong connection to the state, although in fairness that connection would have been to Casper, where he was employed by his father's radio station and where he apparently spent the summers growing up (in an unhappy state of mind, according to one interview of somebody who knew him then).  Gray pretty obviously always had a political career in mind and campaigned from the hard populist right from day one, attempting at first to displace a conservative house member unsuccessfully.

We have a post coming up which deals with the nature of populism, and how it in fact isn't conservatism.  Gray was part of the populist rise in the GOP, even though his background would more naturally have put him in the conservative camp, not the populist one.  But opportunity was found with populists, who now control the GOP state organization.  The hallmark of populism, as we'll explore elsewhere, is a belief in the "wisdom of the people", which is its major failing, and why it tends to be heavily anti-scientific and very strongly vested in occupations that people are used to, but which are undergoing massive stress.  In Wyoming that's expressed itself with a diehard attitude that nothing is going on with the climate and that fossil fuels will be, must have, and are going to dominate the state's economy forever.   The months leading up to the recent legislative session, and the legislative session itself, demonstrated this with Governor Gordon taking criticism for supporting anything to address carbon concerns.  Put fairly bluntly, because a large percentage of Wyoming's rank and file workers depend on the oil and gas industry, and things related to it, any questioning on anything tends to be taken as an attack on "the people".

Natrona County has had a gravel supply problem for quite a while and what the potential miner seeks to do here is basically, through the way our economy works, address it.  There would be every reason to suspect that all of the state's politicians who ran to the far right would support this, and strongly.  But they aren't.

The fact that Gray is not, and is citing environmental concerns, comes as a huge surprise.  But as noted, given his background, he's probably considerably more conservative than populist, but has acted as politicians do, and taken aid and comfort where it was offered.  Tara Nethercott ran as a conservative and lost for the same office.

But here's the thing.

That gravel is exactly the sort of thing that populists, if they're true to what they maintain they stand for, ought to support.  It's good for industry, and the only reason to oppose the mining is that 1) it's in a bad place in terms of the neighbors and 2) legitimate environmental concerns, if there are any.  But that's exactly the point.  You really can't demand that the old ways carry on, until they're in your backyard.  

Truth be known, given their nature, a lot of big environmental concerns are in everyone's backyard right now.

The old GOP would have recognized that nationally, and wouldn't be spending all sorts of time back in DC complaining about electric vehicles.  And if people are comfortable with things being destructive elsewhere, they ought to be comfortable with them being destructive right here.  If we aren't, we ought to be pretty careful about it everywhere.

There actually is some precedent for this, FWIW.  A hallmark of Appalachian populism was the lamenting of what had happened to their region due to coal mining.  John Prine's "Paradise" in some ways could be an environmental populist anthem.

Right about the time I noted this, Rod Miller, opinion writer for the Cowboy State Daily, wrote a satiric article on the same thing:

Rod Miller: Flip-Flops Around The Ol’ Campfire

We have no idea, of course, who his opponent will be, unless it's Gordon, who is theoretically term limited out, but we already know from prior litigation that the restraint on his running again is unconstitutional.  And Gordon clearly doesn't like Gray, a dislike that's not limited to him by any means.  Gordon would have to challenge that in court, however, unless 1) a group of citizens does, and 2) the court ruled they'd have standing.

As voters, they should.

If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see Gordon run again, and to be asked to run again.  While he was a candidate initially I worried about him, as he was further to the right on public lands issues than any candidate since Geringer, but he's actually acted as a very temperate Governor, something made difficult by 1) the intemperate level of our current politics, and 2) the occasional shortsightedness of the legislature.¹

Anyhow, if you've ever had the occasion to see, Gordon and Gray together in an official setting, it's clear they don't get along.  Indeed, on the State Land Board, it's clear that Gordon isn't the only one that's not keen on Gray.  Gray for his part reacts back, as he did recently when he sent an unprecedented lengthy letter to the Governor on his vetoes. 

Gray, like Donald Trump, has some feverish admirers.²  Indeed, this seems to be a hallmark of the populist right.  They not only run candidates, but they develop personality cults routinely.

Rod Miller, again, in a recent column noted a real problem that Gray has.  As, so far, they haven't really been able to advance their agenda without the help of conservatives, they have an advantage there as they always portray themselves as besieged by the numerous barbarians, the last legionnaire on Hadrian's Wall.  Trump has actually, at a national level, worked to keep that status by ordering his party to defeat immigration legislation that was probably a once in a lifetime conservative opportunity.

Anyhow, as noted, Rod Miller recently noted a problem that Gray has.  He's not married.

Rod Miller: Bride Of Chucky – Or – Advice To The Lovelorn From The Ol’ Campfire

Is this actually a problem?

It shouldn't be, but it might be.

Indeed, without going into it, there was a figure in Wyoming decades ago whose marriage was questioned by whisperers on the basis that they believed he married just to end the speculation on why he wasn't married.   The marriage lasted a very long time, so presumably the rumors were without foundation, but there were questions, which is interesting and shows, I guess, how people's minds can work.  

Another way to look at it, I supposed, was prior to Trump if a person was a conservative people would ask about things that appeared to be contrary to public statements about conservatism.  Not being married, for a conservative, was regarded as odd, and for that matter there are still people who whisper about Lindsey Graham, while nobody seems to worry about AOC being shacked up with her boyfriend or whatever is going on with Krysten Sinema. 

And then there's Gray's age.  It will make people suspicious of him at some point, or people will at least take note.  Indeed, some of his critics from the left already have, but in a really juvenile way.

Actually determining Gray's age is a little difficult, and indeed, knowing anything about his background actually is.  But Cowboy State Daily, a conservative organ, managed to reveal about as much as we know.

Gray was born in California and raised outside of Los Angeles.  According to somebody close to the family, or who was, he was homeschooled by his mother.³ He felt uncomfortable about his birthplace, and stated in the campaign

I come from a divorced family, like many people in our country. A judge said I was to live in a different place, but my dad lived here, built a business here, and I spent my summers here during the time that was allocated by the judge.

According to the same source, he didn't seem all that happy in Casper, Wyoming as a kid, but the circumstances could well explain that.  The same source, who probably isn't a family friend anymore, reported to the Cowboy that Gray's father had a focus on the family owned radio station impacting legislation at a national level.  Photos have been circulated of the father with President Reagan.

Gray graduated from high school in 2008 and the respected University of Pennsylvanian in 2012, which makes it all the more remarkable that he's been a success in Wyoming politics.⁴   If we assume the norm about graduation ages, he would have been 22 in 2012, which would make him 34 now.

In Wyoming, the average age for men to marry is 27.8 years on average, while for women it's 25.6.  Gray's now notably over the median age, but that is a median.  I was over it too when I married at age 31.  My wife was below the female one.  That's how averages work.

My parents, I'd note, were both over the median, although I don't know it with precision for the 1950s.  In the 50s, the marriage age was actually at an unusual low.  My father was 29, and my mother 32.

So his age, in the abstract, doesn't really mean anything overall, although it might personality wise.

As has been noted elsewhere on this site, Gray is a Roman Catholic and indeed I've seen him occasionally at Mass, although I would never have seen him every weekend as there are a lot of weekend Masses and my habits aren't the same as his.  I have no reason to believe that he didn't attend weekly as required by the church.⁵  Catholics are supposed to observe traditional Catholic teachings in regard to sex and marriage.  I'm not really going to be delving into that, but again we have no reason to believe that Gray isn't observant, in which case, as he is not married, he should be living as a chaste single man, and he probably is (something that has casued juvenile left wing ribbing).

Wyoming, however, is the least religious state in the union and while Catholics, Orthodox, Mormons and Protestants of traditional morality observe that morality, here, as with the rest of the United States, the late stage mass casualty nature of the Sexual Revolution means that a lot of people in these faiths don't, and the society at large does not.  We've gone from a society where such outside the bounds of marriage behavior was illegal in varying degrees, to one where, nationwide, society pushes people into things whether they want to or not.

Be that as it may, save for Casper, Laramie, and probably Cheyenne, sexual conduct outside the biological gender norm is very much looked down upon.  Indeed, in a really dense move, a Democratic Albany County legislator went to a meeting in Northeast Wyoming a while back on homosexual issues and was shocked by the hostile reception she received.  She shouldn't have been.

No, I'm not saying this applies to Gray.  I have no reason to believe that, and indeed I believe the opposite.

However, we've gone from a state whose ethos was "I don't care what you do as long as you leave me alone" to one in which, largely due to the importation of Evangelicals from elsewhere, a fairly large percentage of the population really care about what you do, particularly if they don't like it.

Indeed, at the time that Matthew Shepard was murdered, I was surprised when I heard an anti-homosexual comment.  Such comments do not surprise me now, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear one now in the context of a murder.  As noted, the exceptions seem to be Laramie (where Shepard was murdered, but which has never been hostile to homosexuals), Casper (which has had a homosexual 20 something mayor and which has a lesbian city council member) and Cheyenne (which has a homosexual member of the state House, as does Albany County).  Well, I omitted Jackson and should include it here too.

At any rate, being an open homosexual and aiming for major office probably is impossible, although for minor ones it hasn't proven to be.  The point is, however, that Miller is right. At some point, people are going to start wondering why staunchly populist Gray isn't married.

Maybe it's because he is in fact a staunchly populist out of state import.  There aren't that many women in that pool.  Indeed, having a one time vague contact with our staunchly populist Congresswoman, I was very surprised when it turned out she was a populist, or even a conservative.  I'm not saying that she's not, I'm just surprised.

Gray is in a sort of oddball demographic.  Not being from here, he wouldn't be in any circles in which women from here, professionals or otherwise, would be in.  He appears to really be a fish out of water in terms of the local culture.  When he appears at things, he does wear cowboy boots, but you can tell they've never been in a stirrup, and he otherwise is, at least based on my very limited observation of him, always dressed in what we might sort of regard as 1980s Denver Business Casual.  I'd be stunned if I saw him on a trout stream or out in the prairie with his bird dog, Rex.  I've seen him at a bar once, for a grand opening of something, but I don't imagine him walking up to the tender at The Buckhorn or The Oregon Trail and ordering a double Jack Daniel's either.

I was once told by an out-of-state lawyer who had been born in the state but who had moved to Denver after graduating from law school, regarding Wyomingites, that "you have to be tough just to live there".  People who live here probably don't realize that, but there's more than a little truth to it.  I'm often shocked by the appearance of populist legislature Jeanette Ward, as it's so clear she just doesn't belong here.  She's not the kind of gal who would be comfortable sitting next to the ranch girl chewing tobacco who has the "Wrangler Butts Drive Me Nuts" bumper sticker on her pickup truck.⁶   Gray probably isn't comfortable with such a gal either.  "Tomboys", as they used to be called, are sort of the mean average for Wyoming women.  

Gray is well-educated, of course, which is part of the reason that I suspect a lot of his positions are affectations.  I don't think he really believes the election was stolen, for example, unless he's doing so willfully, which would mean that he really doesn't believe that.  Recently he's taken on the topic of firearms arguing, as part of the State Facilities Commission, that the state needs to open up carrying guns at the capitol, which is frankly absurd.  While I don't know the answer, I suspect that Gray isn't really a firearms' aficionado. 

Up until very recently, Wyomingites knew a lot about the people they sent to the legislature and public office, often knowing them personally to some degree.  We actually knew the Governor and the First Lady on some basis other than politics, quite frequently, and our local reps we knew pretty well.  The populist invasion defeated that to some degree, and in some cases, a great deal.  The question is whether this is permanent, or temporary.  It wasn't until the last election that people looked at Gray's background at all, and they still have very little.  People haven't really grasped until just now that many of the Freedom Caucus are imports, not natives.  We don't know much about some of them or their families, and chances are an average Wyomingite, or at least a long term native, would regard them as odd on some occasions.  Chuck Gray just ran an op ed that was titled something like Only Wyomingites Should Vote In Wyoming's Elections.  Most long term and native born Wyomingites feel that strongly, and wouldn't actually regard a lot of our current office holders as being Wyomingites.

There's evidence that the populist fad is passing. We'll see. This and the 2026 election will be a test of it.  2026 is a long ways off.  For that matter, it's sufficiently long enough for these candidates to evolve if they need to. Some are probably capable of doing that.  Others, undoubtedly not.  The question will be if they need to.

May 11, 2024

It's very clear, to those paying any attention, that Wyoming elected executive branch officials really dislike Chuck Gray, including those who are very conservative.  This became evident again when Superintendant of Education Degenfelder indicated Wyoming would join a Title IX lawsuit in opposition to the Federal Government's new rules on "transgender" atheletes.  Degenfelder indicated that she'd been working behind the scenes with Gov. Gordon on this matter.  In doing so she blasted Gray who earlier made comments wondering where the state's officials were on this matter, even though his office has less than 0 responsiblity in this department.  Degenfelder stated in regard to Gray, "I would encourage Secretary Gray to join those of us actually making plays on the field rather than just heckling from the sidelines".  Gray, who is a Californian who has lived very little of his life in Wyoming save for summers here while growing up, declared in response he was on "Team Wyoming".

FWIW, Wyoming really doesn't need to particpate in lawsuits maintained by other parties, as they're already maintained.

Footnotes

1. There are numerous examples of this, but a really good one is Gordon's effort to buy the UP checkerboard, which the legislature defeated.  It would have been a real boon for the state, but fiscal conservatives just couldn't see it that way.

Recently, Gordon hasn't been shy about vetoing highly unadvised bills that have come out of the legislature, or shutting down bad regulations that come out of the Secretary of State's office.

2.  And not just Gray, Harriet Hageman does as well.

3. Homeschooling, for whatever reason a person does it, can be developmentally limiting.  I don't know about Gray's case, but its notable that some on the far right have done it, as they believe that schools are left wing organs and there are things they don't want their children exposed to them.  The problem this presents is that children who are homeschooled grow up in a very narrow environment, whereas, at least here, those who go to public, and for that matter religious schools, do not.

4. There used to be a school interview of him from the University of Pennsylvania, in which he expressed a desire to become a lawyer.  He's clearly not going to do that now, unless of course his political career ended, which is perfectly possible.

5.  As noted here in prior posts, lying is regarded as a potentially serious sin in Catholicism, and lying about something like who won the 2020 election would be, in some circumstances, a mortal sin if you were a political figure.  

6.  Ward is from Illinois and openly calls herself a political refugee. At the time of moving here, she posted something about her children not having to wear masks in our public schools, adopting the far right wing view that trying to protect others in this fashion is somehow an intrusion on liberty.  I suppose it is, but not relieving yourself in public is as well.  Anyhow, at some point, presuming those children remain in public school, she'll be in for a shock as Casper's schools truly have a really wide demographic and are not exactly made up of an Evangelical populist sample of the population.

Blog Mirror: Tom Lubnau: State Level Political Risks

 

Tom Lubnau: State Level Political Risks

This must have been problematic for immigrants crossing the Oregon Trail.

 

Thursday, April 27, 1944. Exercise Tiger

Friendly fire due to lack of coordination killed US servicemen participating in Exercise Tiger, a landing practice operation.  The number of casualties inflicted remains unknown, but was large.

Later that night, into the next day, three American LST's were attacked and sunk in Lyme Bay by E-boats.

As a result of these incidents, over 700 troops were killed, with 400 of them being on a single LST.  The incident was kept secret.

The UK banned all travel outside Great Britain.

Quebec's legislative assembly voted 55 to 4 for a motion disapproving of sending conscripts overseas.

The Soviet Air Force raided Lvov at night.  

The city had been in pre-war Poland.  Now, as Lviv, it's in Ukraine, and is once again subject to Russian attack.

The U-803 was sunk by a mine in the Baltic.

Today In Wyoming's History: April 27: 1944  The Wyoming Stock Growers Association gave the University of Wyoming its archives, a major contribution given the enormous role the WSGA had in the early history of the state. Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

Sewell Avery, the principal of Montgomery Ward, and a highly successful and extremely conservative businessman, had to be forcibly removed from his office due to his refusal to settle a strike.  Ward's was delivering vital war goods.  Avery would accordingly not only be carted out of his office by two Military Policemen, but temporary lose his office with the company.

Upon being carried out and meeting the Attorney General who was delegated to the matter, he yelled.

 To hell with the government, you... New Dealer!

He subsequently complained that the government was leading the nation into a government of dictators.

While a savvy businessman, he misread the post-war economy and the changes that the war had brought to labor relations, and Montgomery Ward lost its position as a department store leader to Sears Roebuck.  In another misread, Avery had assigned the rights to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to the company employee who had written the story for a Ward's promotional.

For some reason, I feel that Avery would be a Trump supporter.

Last prior edition:

Wednesday, April 26, 1944. Pyrrihic Kidnapping.

1940s, 1944, Commandos, Crete, German Kriegsmarine, Imperial Japanese Navy, New Guinea, Posters, Prisoners of War, Propaganda, Royal Navy, SOE, Special Operations Executive, U.S. Navy, World War Two

Going Feral: Wreckers.

Going Feral: Wreckers.: 

Wreckers.

A bill introduced by Wyoming's two Senators and its one Congressman. 

118th CONGRESS 1st Session

S. 1348

To redesignate land within certain wilderness study areas in the State of Wyoming, and for other purposes.

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 27, 2023

Mr. Barrasso (for himself and Ms. Lummis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

---

A BILL

To redesignate land within certain wilderness study areas in the State of Wyoming, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2023”.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) BUREAU.—The term “Bureau” means the Bureau of Land Management.

(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term “Department” means the Department of the Interior.

(3) DIRECTOR.—The term “Director” means the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

(4) EMERGENCY.—The term “emergency” means a situation that requires immediate action because of an imminent danger—

(A) to the health or safety of people; or

(B) of harm to property.

(5) RANGE IMPROVEMENT.—The term “range improvement” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1902).

(6) STATE.—The term “State” means the State of Wyoming.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF LAND IN CARBON COUNTY, WYOMING.

(a) Designation Of Wilderness Areas.—

(1) ENCAMPMENT RIVER CANYON WILDERNESS.—

(A) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except as provided in subparagraph (B), the land within the boundaries of the Encampment River Canyon Wilderness Study Area is designated as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the “Encampment River Canyon Wilderness” (referred to in this paragraph as the “Wilderness”).

(B) EXCLUDED LAND.—

(i) DEFINITION OF WATER VALLEY ROAD.—In this subparagraph, the term “Water Valley Road” means the road in Carbon County, Wyoming, that is 50 feet wide and 17,340 feet long, consisting of approximately 19.904 acres of land in T. 14 N., R. 84 W., including—

(I) in sec. 22, land in—

(aa) the NE1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ; and

(bb) the S1⁄2 SW1⁄4 ;

(II) in sec. 27, land in lots 4, 6, and 7 of the NW1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ;

(III) in sec. 28, land in lot 1 of the NE1⁄4 SE1⁄4 ;

(IV) in sec. 34, land in—

(aa) the S1⁄2 NE1⁄4 ; and

(bb) the E1⁄2 NW1⁄4 ; and

(V) in sec. 35, land in—

(aa) the N1⁄2 SW1⁄4 ;

(bb) the NW1⁄4 SE1⁄4 ; and

(cc) the S1⁄2 SE1⁄4 .

(ii) LAND EXCLUDED FROM THE WILDERNESS.—The following land is not included in the Wilderness:

(I) Any land in the NW1⁄4 NW1⁄4 NW1⁄4 sec. 24, T. 14 N., R. 84 W.

(II) Any land within 50 feet of the centerline of—

(aa) County Road 353; or

(bb) Water Valley Road.

(C) MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.—Necessary maintenance or repairs to County Road 353 or Water Valley Road (as defined in subparagraph (B)) shall be permitted after the date of enactment of this Act, consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

(D) WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a fire suppression plan for the protection of—

(I) any individual or structure adjacent to the Wilderness; and

(II) the population centers of—

(aa) Encampment, Wyoming; and

(bb) Riverside, Wyoming.

(ii) COORDINATION.—In carrying out clause (i), the Director shall coordinate with—

(I) the Wyoming State Forestry Division; and

(II) Carbon County, Wyoming.

(2) PROSPECT MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS.—

(A) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except as provided in subparagraph (B), the land within the boundaries of the Prospect Mountain Wilderness Study Area is designated as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the “Prospect Mountain Wilderness” (referred to in this paragraph as the “Wilderness”).

(B) EXCLUDED LAND.—Any land within 100 feet of the centerline of Prospect Road is not included in the Wilderness.

(C) MAINTENANCE OF PROSPECT ROAD.—Necessary maintenance or repairs to Prospect Road shall be permitted after the date of enactment of this Act, consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

(3) MANAGEMENT OF WILDERNESS AREAS.—

(A) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, the wilderness areas designated in paragraphs (1) and (2) (referred to in this paragraph as the “Wilderness Areas”) shall be administered by the Director in accordance with—

(i) this paragraph; and

(ii) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act.

(B) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Wilderness Areas, where established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be allowed to continue in accordance with—

(i) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4));

(ii) the guidelines set forth in the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress (H. Rept. 96–617); and

(iii) the guidelines set forth in appendix A of the Report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to accompany H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (H. Rept. 101–405).

(C) REVIEW OF POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND REGULATIONS.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that the policies, practices, and regulations of the Department conform to and implement the intent of Congress regarding forest fires and the outbreak of disease or insects, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall review all policies, practices, and regulations of the Department applicable to the Wilderness Areas that pertain to—

(I) wildland fires, including the use of modern methods of fire suppression (including mechanical activity, as necessary); or

(II) the outbreak of disease or insect populations.

(ii) REVISIONS.—On completion of the review under clause (i), the Secretary of the Interior shall revise or develop policies, practices, and regulations for the Wilderness Areas—

(I) to ensure the timely and efficient control of fires, diseases, and insects in the Wilderness Areas, in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)); and

(II) to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, adequate protection from forest fires, disease outbreaks, and insect infestations to any Federal, State, or private land adjacent to the Wilderness Areas.

(b) Designation Of Bennett Mountains Special Management Area.—

(1) DESIGNATION.—The land within the Bennett Mountains Wilderness Study Area is designated as the “Bennett Mountains Special Management Area” (referred to in this subsection as the “Special Management Area”).

(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Director.

(3) ROADS; MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—

(A) ROADS.—

(i) PROHIBITION ON NEW PERMANENT ROADS.—The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed.

(ii) TEMPORARY ROADS.—The Director may authorize the construction of new temporary roads to respond to an emergency.

(B) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—Except as needed for administrative purposes, to respond to an emergency, or to develop range improvements, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles by the travel management plan established under subparagraph (C).

(C) TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area.

(4) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered—

(A) as a nondiscretionary use; and

(B) in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau, including—

(i) the Act of June 28, 1934 (commonly known as the “Taylor Grazing Act”) (48 Stat. 1269, chapter 865; 43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.);

(ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(iii) the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).

(5) FIRE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPRESSION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall carry out fire management and suppression activities in the Special Management Area in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(B) REVIEW OF POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND REGULATIONS.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that the policies, practices, and regulations of the Bureau conform to and implement the intent of Congress regarding forest fires, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall review all policies, practices, and regulations of the Bureau applicable to the Special Management Area that pertain to wildland fires, including the use of modern methods of fire suppression.

(ii) REVISION.—On completion of the review under clause (i), the Director shall revise or develop policies, practices, and regulations for the Special Management Area—

(I) to ensure the timely and efficient control of fires in the Special Management Area; and

(II) to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, adequate protection from forest fires to any Federal, State, or private land adjacent to the Special Management Area.

(6) TIMBER HARVESTING.—Commercial timber harvesting shall not be allowed in the Special Management Area.

(7) WITHDRAWAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from—

(i) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(ii) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Interior may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if—

(i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and

(ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.

(c) Designation Of Black Cat Special Management Area.—

(1) DESIGNATION.—The land described in paragraph (2) is designated as the “Black Cat Special Management Area” (referred to in this subsection as the “Special Management Area”).

(2) INCLUDED LAND.—The Special Management Area shall consist of—

(A) the Federal land in T. 14 N., R. 81 W., sec. 35, that is managed by the Forest Service; and

(B) the portions of T. 14 N., R. 81 W., secs. 26, 35, and 36, that are south and west of the North Platte River.

(3) ADMINISTRATION.—The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(4) ROADS; MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—

(A) ROADS.—

(i) PROHIBITION ON NEW PERMANENT ROADS.—The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed.

(ii) TEMPORARY ROADS.—The Secretary of Agriculture may authorize the construction of new temporary roads to respond to an emergency.

(B) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—Except as needed for administrative purposes, to respond to an emergency, or to develop or maintain range improvements, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prohibit the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area.

(5) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Areas shall be administered—

(A) as a nondiscretionary use; and

(B) in accordance with the laws generally applicable to the National Forest System, including—

(i) the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528 et seq.);

(ii) the Act of June 28, 1934 (commonly known as the “Taylor Grazing Act”) (48 Stat. 1269, chapter 865; 43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.); and

(iii) the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).

(6) FIRE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPRESSION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out fire management and suppression activities in the Special Management Area—

(i) in accordance with the laws generally applicable to—

(I) the National Forest System; and

(II) the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area; and

(ii) (I) if a land management plan has been established for the Special Management Area, in accordance with that land management plan; or

(II) if a land management plan has not been established for the Special Management Area, in a manner consistent with land that is similarly situated to the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(B) REVIEW OF POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND REGULATIONS.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that the policies, practices, and regulations of the Department of Agriculture conform to and implement the intent of Congress regarding forest fires, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall review all policies, practices, and regulations of the Department of Agriculture applicable to the Special Management Area that pertain to forest fires, including the use of modern methods of fire suppression.

(ii) REVISION.—On completion of the review under clause (i), the Secretary of Agriculture shall revise or develop policies, practices, and regulations for the Special Management Area—

(I) to ensure the timely and efficient control of fires in the Special Management Area; and

(II) to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, adequate protection from forest fires to any Federal, State, or private land adjacent to the Special Management Area.

(7) TIMBER HARVESTING.—Commercial timber harvesting shall not be allowed in the Special Management Area.

(8) WITHDRAWAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from—

(i) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(ii) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Interior may, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if—

(i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and

(ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.

(d) Release Of Wilderness Study Areas.—

(1) FINDING.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), any portion of a wilderness study area described in paragraph (2) that is not designated as wilderness by this section has been adequately studied for wilderness designation.

(2) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The wilderness study areas referred to in paragraphs (1) and (3) are—

(A) the Encampment River Canyon Wilderness Study Area;

(B) the Prospect Mountain Wilderness Study Area; and

(C) the Bennett Mountains Wilderness Study Area.

(3) RELEASE.—Any portion of a wilderness study area described in paragraph (2) that is not designated as wilderness by this section is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

(4) MANAGEMENT OF RELEASED LAND.—

(A) ENCAMPMENT RIVER CANYON WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—The Director shall manage the portion of the Encampment River Canyon Wilderness Study Area released under paragraph (3) in a manner consistent with a resource management plan that is applicable to any land that—

(i) is adjacent to that released portion; and

(ii) is not included in the Encampment River Canyon Wilderness designated under subsection (a)(1).

(B) PROSPECT MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—The portion of the Prospect Mountain Wilderness Study Area released under paragraph (3) shall be managed in accordance with—

(i) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(ii) any other applicable law.

(C) BENNETT MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—The Director shall manage the portion of the Bennett Mountains Wilderness Study Area released under paragraph (3) in accordance with subsection (b).

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF LAND IN FREMONT AND NATRONA COUNTIES, WYOMING.

(a) Designation Of Upper Sweetwater Canyon And Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Areas.—

(1) DESIGNATION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the land within the boundaries of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area is designated as wilderness and, as described in subparagraphs (B) and (C), as 2 components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the “Upper Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness” (referred to in this subsection as the “Upper Wilderness”) and the “Lower Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness” (referred to in this subsection as the “Lower Wilderness”).

(B) UPPER SWEETWATER CANYON WILDERNESS.—

(i) BOUNDARY.—

(I) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subclause (II), the boundary of the Upper Wilderness shall conform to the boundary of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area.

(II) EASTERN BOUNDARY.—The eastern boundary of the Upper Wilderness shall be 100 feet from the western edge of the north-south road bisecting the Upper Wilderness and the Lower Wilderness, known as “Strawberry Creek Road”.

(ii) EXCLUSION OF EXISTING ROADS.—Any established legal route with authorized motorized use in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that enters the Upper Wilderness in T. 28 N., R. 98 W., sec. 4, or the Lower Wilderness in T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 33, is not included in the Upper Wilderness.

(C) LOWER SWEETWATER CANYON WILDERNESS.—

(i) BOUNDARY.—

(I) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), the boundary of the Lower Wilderness shall conform to the boundary of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area.

(II) WESTERN BOUNDARY.—The western boundary of the Lower Wilderness shall be 100 feet from the eastern edge of the north-south road bisecting the Upper Wilderness and the Lower Wilderness, known as “Strawberry Creek Road”.

(III) NORTHERN BOUNDARY.—The northern boundary of the Lower Wilderness shall begin where the bisecting road referred to in subclause (II) enters the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area at the border of T. 29 N., R. 98 W., sec. 36, and T. 28 N., R. 98 W., sec. 2, and shall run east along the boundary of T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 31, to the centerline of T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 31, then north along that centerline to the midpoint of T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 31, then east along that centerline to the boundary of T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 32, then following the existing boundary of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area to the midpoint of T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 32, then east along the centerline of T. 29 N., R. 97 W., secs. 32 and 33, to the existing boundary of the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area.

(ii) EXCLUSION OF EXISTING ROADS.—Any established legal route with authorized motorized use in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that enters the Upper Wilderness in T. 29 N., R. 98 W., sec. 4, or the Lower Wilderness in T. 29 N., R. 97 W., sec. 33, is not included in the Lower Wilderness.

(2) MANAGEMENT.—

(A) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, the Upper Wilderness and the Lower Wilderness shall be administered by the Director in accordance with—

(i) this paragraph; and

(ii) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act.

(B) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Upper Wilderness and the Lower Wilderness, where established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be allowed to continue in accordance with—

(i) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4));

(ii) the guidelines set forth in the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress (H. Rept. 96–617); and

(iii) the guidelines set forth in appendix A of the Report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to accompany H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (H. Rept. 101–405).

(C) MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING ROADS.—Necessary maintenance or repairs to any road described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) shall be permitted after the date of enactment of this Act, consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

(D) RANGE IMPROVEMENTS.—The construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of range improvements shall be allowed in the Upper Wilderness and the Lower Wilderness.

(E) BUFFER ZONES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this paragraph creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Upper Wilderness or the Lower Wilderness.

(ii) ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE WILDERNESS AREAS.—The fact that an activity or use on land outside the Upper Wilderness or the Lower Wilderness can be seen or heard within the Upper Wilderness or the Lower Wilderness, respectively, shall not preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the Upper Wilderness or the Lower Wilderness.

(3) RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Sweetwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area not designated as wilderness by this subsection has been adequately studied for wilderness designation and is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

(b) Designation Of Sweetwater Rocks Special Management Area.—

(1) DESIGNATION.—The land within the Lankin Dome, Split Rock, Savage Peak, and Miller Springs Wilderness Study Areas is designated as the “Sweetwater Rocks Special Management Area” (referred to in this subsection as the “Special Management Area”).

(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Director in a manner that protects—

(A) valid existing rights;

(B) agricultural uses;

(C) primitive recreational opportunities; and

(D) natural, historic, and scenic resources.

(3) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the use of motorized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on established legal routes with authorized motorized use existing on the date of enactment of this Act.

(B) EXCEPTIONS.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the use of motorized vehicles may be allowed in the Special Management Area for the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of necessary infrastructure, as determined by the Director.

(4) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(5) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN OVERHEAD TOWERS.—No new overhead transmission or communications tower shall be constructed in the Special Management Area.

(6) UNDERGROUND RIGHTS-OF-WAY.—The Director may expand any underground right-of-way in the Special Management Area that exists as of the date of enactment of this Act.

(7) BUFFER ZONES.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this subsection creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Special Management Area.

(B) ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—The fact that an activity or use on land outside the Special Management Area can be seen or heard within the Special Management Area shall not preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the Special Management Area.

(8) LAND EXCHANGES AND EASEMENTS.—

(A) LAND EXCHANGES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director may propose to, and carry out with, an individual or entity owning land in the vicinity of the Special Management Area any land exchange that—

(I) increases access to the Special Management Area; and

(II) does not result in a net loss of Federal land.

(ii) PROCESS.—The Director may carry out clause (i)—

(I) through the use of existing processes; or

(II) by establishing a process for proposing and carrying out land exchanges under that clause.

(B) EASEMENTS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director may acquire from an individual or entity owning land in the vicinity of the Special Management Area an easement for the purpose of increasing access to the Special Management Area.

(9) WITHDRAWALS.—

(A) MINING, MINERAL, AND GEOTHERMAL WITHDRAWAL.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from—

(I) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(II) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(ii) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Interior may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if—

(I) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and

(II) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.

(B) WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from right-of-way leasing and disposition under all laws relating to wind or solar energy.

(10) RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Lankin Dome, Split Rock, Savage Peak, and Miller Springs Wilderness Study Areas has been adequately studied for wilderness designation and is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

(c) Release Of The Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area.—

(1) DIVISION.—The Director shall divide the land within the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area by installing a fence, or repairing or relocating an existing fence, in T. 41 N., R. 106 W., sec. 5, that—

(A) follows existing infrastructure and natural barriers;

(B) begins at an intersection with North Mountain View Road in the NE1⁄4 NW1⁄4 sec. 5, T. 41 N., R. 106 W.;

(C) from the point described in subparagraph (B), proceeds southeast to a point near the midpoint of the NE1⁄4 sec. 5, T. 41 N., R. 106 W.; and

(D) from the point described in subparagraph (C), proceeds southwest to a point in the SW1⁄4 NE1⁄4 sec. 5, T. 41 N., R. 106 W., that intersects with the boundary of the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area.

(2) DUBOIS MOTORIZED RECREATION AREA.—

(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Dubois Motorized Recreation Area (referred to in this paragraph as the “Recreation Area”) in the State, to be managed by the Director.

(B) AREA INCLUDED.—The Recreation Area shall consist of—

(i) any land within the boundaries of the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area that is west of the fence described in paragraph (1); and

(ii) any Federal land in T. 41 N., R. 106 W., secs. 5 and 6 that—

(I) is managed by the Bureau; and

(II) is west of North Mountain View Road.

(C) MANAGEMENT.—

(i) BOUNDARY FENCE.—

(I) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall construct a fence along the western boundary of the Recreation Area on any land that—

(aa) is managed by the Bureau; and

(bb) is west of North Mountain View Road.

(II) COORDINATION.—In designing, locating, and constructing the fence described in subclause (I), the Director shall coordinate with the owners of any land adjacent to the land described in that subclause.

(ii) TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—As soon as practicable after the date of completion of the fence described in clause (i), the Director shall establish a travel management plan for the Recreation Area to maximize the use of motorized off-road vehicles in the Recreation Area.

(3) DUBOIS BADLANDS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA.—

(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area (referred to in this paragraph as the “Conservation Area”) in the State, to be managed by the Director.

(B) AREA INCLUDED.—The Conservation Area shall consist of any land within the boundaries of the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area that is east of the fence described in paragraph (1).

(C) MANAGEMENT.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall manage the Conservation Area in a manner that protects—

(I) valid existing rights;

(II) agricultural uses;

(III) primitive recreational opportunities; and

(IV) natural, historic, and scenic resources.

(D) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii), the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area shall not be allowed.

(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—The Director may allow the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area for—

(I) habitat improvement;

(II) the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of range improvements; and

(III) to respond to an emergency.

(E) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Conservation Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(F) RIGHTS-OF-WAY.—No major right-of-way shall be allowed within the boundaries of the Conservation Area.

(G) WITHDRAWAL.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Conservation Area is withdrawn from—

(I) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(II) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(4) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area has been adequately studied for wilderness designation and is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

(d) Release Of Certain Wilderness Study Areas.—

(1) COPPER MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—

(A) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Copper Mountain Wilderness Study Area—

(i) has been adequately studied for wilderness designation;

(ii) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and

(iii) shall be managed in accordance with this paragraph.

(B) MANAGEMENT OF RELEASED LAND.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—The land described in subparagraph (A) shall be administered by the Director in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(ii) MINERAL LEASING.—

(I) IN GENERAL.—Subject to surface occupancy requirements and any other provision of law, the Director may enter mineral leases for any land described in subparagraph (A) that has a slope of less than 25 percent.

(II) UNDERGROUND RIGHTS-OF-WAY.—The Director may grant underground rights-of-way for any mineral lease entered into under subclause (I).

(iii) PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN LEASES.—Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall not issue a new lease for a wind or solar project, an overhead transmission line, or a communication tower on the land described in subparagraph (A).

(C) AUTHORITY TO EXCHANGE LAND.—In carrying out any land exchange involving any of the land described in subparagraph (A), the Director shall ensure that the exchange does not result in a net loss of Federal land.

(2) WHISKEY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—

(A) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Whiskey Mountain Wilderness Study Area—

(i) has been adequately studied for wilderness designation;

(ii) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and

(iii) shall be managed in accordance with this paragraph.

(B) MANAGEMENT OF RELEASED LAND.—The land described in subparagraph (A) shall be administered by the Director in accordance with—

(i) a resource management plan that is applicable to any land adjacent to the land described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii) the Whiskey Mountain Cooperative Agreement between the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the Forest Service, and the Bureau, including any amendment to that agreement relating to the management of bighorn sheep.

(e) Management Of Land In Fremont County, Wyoming.—

(1) DEFINITION OF COUNTY.—In this subsection, the term “County” means Fremont County, Wyoming.

(2) LANDER SLOPE AND RED CANYON AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN.—

(A) TRANSFERS.—The Director shall pursue transfers in which land managed by the Bureau in the County is exchanged for land owned by the State that is within the boundaries of—

(i) the Lander Slope Area of Critical Environmental Concern; or

(ii) the Red Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A transfer under subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) comply with all requirements of law, including any required analysis; and

(ii) be subject to appropriation.

(3) STUDY.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall carry out a study to evaluate the potential for the development of special motorized recreation areas in the County.

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The study under subparagraph (A) shall evaluate—

(i) the potential for the development of special motorized recreation areas on all land managed by the Bureau in the County except—

(I) T. 40 N., R. 94 W., secs. 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and the N1⁄2 sec. 34; and

(II) any land that is subject to a restriction on the use of off-road vehicles under any Federal law, including this Act;

(ii) the suitability of the land for off-road vehicles, including rock crawlers; and

(iii) the parking, staging, and camping necessary to accommodate special motorized recreation.

(C) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the findings of the study under subparagraph (A).

(4) FREMONT COUNTY IMPLEMENTATION TEAM.—

(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a team, to be known as the “Fremont County Implementation Team” (referred to in this paragraph as the “Team”) to advise and assist the Director with respect to the implementation of the management requirements described in this section that are applicable to land in the County.

(B) MEMBERSHIP.—The team shall consist of—

(i) the Secretary of the Interior (or a designee of the Secretary of the Interior); and

(ii) 1 or more individuals appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of the County.

(C) NONAPPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The team shall not be subject to the requirements of chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Federal Advisory Committee Act”).

SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF LAND IN JOHNSON AND CAMPBELL COUNTIES, WYOMING.

(a) Designations.—

(1) FORTIFICATION CREEK MANAGEMENT AREA.—The land within the Fortification Creek Wilderness Study Area is designated as the “Fortification Creek Management Area”.

(2) FRAKER MOUNTAIN MANAGEMENT AREA.—The land within the Gardner Mountain Wilderness Study Area is designated as the “Fraker Mountain Management Area”.

(3) NORTH FORK MANAGEMENT AREA.—The land within the North Fork Wilderness Study Area is designated as the “North Fork Management Area”.

(b) Management.—

(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The management areas designated by subsection (a) (referred to in this subsection as the “Management Areas”) shall be administered by the Director in a manner that—

(A) promotes nonmotorized backcountry recreation, including hunting; and

(B) supports ongoing projects to maintain and improve—

(i) wildlife habitat;

(ii) forest health;

(iii) watershed protection; and

(iv) ecological and cultural values.

(2) ROADS.—

(A) PROHIBITION ON NEW PERMANENT ROADS.—The construction of new permanent roads in the Management Areas shall not be allowed.

(B) TEMPORARY ROADS.—The Secretary of the Interior may authorize the construction of new temporary roads in the Management Areas—

(i) for—

(I) fire suppression;

(II) forest health and restoration;

(III) weed and pest control;

(IV) habitat management;

(V) livestock management; or

(VI) the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of a range improvement; or

(ii) to respond to an emergency.

(3) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles in the Management Areas shall not be allowed.

(B) EXCEPTIONS.—The Director may allow the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles in the Management Areas—

(i) for—

(I) fire suppression;

(II) forest health and restoration;

(III) weed and pest control;

(IV) habitat management;

(V) livestock management; or

(VI) the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of a range improvement; or

(ii) to respond to an emergency.

(4) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Management Areas shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(5) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE.—The development, construction, or installation of infrastructure for recreational use shall not be allowed in—

(A) the Fraker Mountain Management Area; or

(B) the North Fork Management Area.

(6) WITHDRAWAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Management Areas is withdrawn from—

(i) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(ii) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Interior may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of a management area designated by paragraph (1) if—

(i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the management area; and

(ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the management area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.

(7) RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Fortification Creek Wilderness Study Area, the Gardner Mountain Wilderness Study Area, and the North Fork Wilderness Study Area has been adequately studied for wilderness designation and is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

SEC. 6. DESIGNATION OF LAND IN WASHAKIE AND HOT SPRINGS COUNTIES, WYOMING.

(a) Designation Of Bobcat Draw Wilderness.—

(1) DESIGNATION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the approximately 6,200 acres of land within the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area described in subparagraph (B) is designated as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the “Bobcat Draw Wilderness” (referred to in this subsection as the “Wilderness”).

(B) INCLUDED LAND.—The Wilderness shall consist of—

(i) in T. 48 N., R. 97 W., secs. 2, 3, 10, 11, 15, 22, 23, 26, and 27, any land in the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area that is in Washakie County, Wyoming;

(ii) in T. 48 N., R. 97 W., sec. 4, the land in—

(I) the E1⁄2 SE1⁄4 ;

(II) lots 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the NE1⁄4 ;

(III) the east 1⁄2 of lot 10 of the NW1⁄4 ; and

(IV) the northeast 1⁄4 of lot 15 of the NW1⁄4 ;

(iii) in T. 48 N., R. 97 W., sec. 9, the land in—

(I) the E1⁄2 NE1⁄4 ;

(II) the SW1⁄4 NE1⁄4 ;

(III) the E1⁄2 NW1⁄4 NE1⁄4 ;

(IV) the SE1⁄4 SE1⁄4 NW1⁄4 ;

(V) the SE1⁄4 ;

(VI) the E1⁄2 NE1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ;

(VII) the SW1⁄4 NE1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ;

(VIII) the SE1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ; and

(IX) the E1⁄2 SW1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ;

(iv) in T. 48 N., R. 97 W., sec. 14, the land in—

(I) the W1⁄2 ;

(II) the W1⁄2 NE1⁄4 ;

(III) the W1⁄2 SE1⁄4 ; and

(IV) the SE1⁄4 SE1⁄4 ;

(v) in T. 48 N., R. 97 W., sec. 21, the land in—

(I) the NE1⁄4 ;

(II) the E1⁄2 NE1⁄4 NW1⁄4 ;

(III) the E1⁄2 SE1⁄4 NW1⁄4 ;

(IV) the E1⁄2 NE1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ;

(V) that part of the E1⁄2 SE1⁄4 SW1⁄4 within the boundary of the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area; and

(VI) that part of the SE1⁄4 within the boundary of the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area; and

(vi) in T. 48 N., R. 97 W., sec. 24, the land in—

(I) the W1⁄2 NW1⁄4 ; and

(II) that part of the NW1⁄4 SW1⁄4 within the boundary of the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area.

(2) MANAGEMENT.—

(A) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness shall be administered by the Director in accordance with—

(i) this paragraph; and

(ii) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act.

(B) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Wilderness, where established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be allowed to continue in accordance with—

(i) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4));

(ii) the guidelines set forth in the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress (H. Rept. 96–617); and

(iii) the guidelines set forth in appendix A of the Report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to accompany H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (H. Rept. 101–405).

(C) REVIEW OF POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND REGULATIONS.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that the policies, practices, and regulations of the Department conform to and implement the intent of Congress regarding forest fires and the outbreak of disease or insects, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall review all policies, practices, and regulations of the Department applicable to the Wilderness that pertain to—

(I) forest fires, including the use of modern methods of fire suppression (including mechanical activity, as necessary); or

(II) the outbreak of disease or insect populations.

(ii) REVISIONS.—On completion of the review under clause (i), the Secretary of the Interior shall revise or develop policies, practices, and regulations for the Wilderness—

(I) to ensure the timely and efficient control of fires, diseases, and insects in the Wilderness; and

(II) to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, adequate protection from forest fires, disease outbreaks, and insect infestations to any Federal, State, or private land adjacent to the Wilderness.

(3) RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—

(A) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area not designated as wilderness by this subsection has been adequately studied for wilderness designation and is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

(B) CLASSIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RELEASED LAND.—

(i) CLASSIFICATION.—The Director shall designate the land described in subparagraph (A) as visual resource management class II.

(ii) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock on the land described in subparagraph (A) shall be administered—

(I) as a nondiscretionary use; and

(II) in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(C) TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a travel management plan for the land described in subparagraph (A).

(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The travel management plan under clause (i) shall—

(I) identify all existing roads and trails on the land described in subparagraph (A);

(II) designate each road or trail available for—

(aa) motorized or mechanized recreation; or

(bb) agriculture practices;

(III) prohibit the construction of any new road or trail for motorized or mechanized recreation use; and

(IV) permit the continued use of nonmotorized trails.

(D) WITHDRAWAL.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land described in subparagraph (A) is withdrawn from—

(I) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(II) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(ii) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Interior may lease oil and gas resources within the land described in subparagraph (A) if—

(I) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the land described in subparagraph (A); and

(II) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance on the land described in subparagraph (A) for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.

(b) Designation Of Cedar Mountain Special Management Area.—

(1) DESIGNATION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the land within the Cedar Mountain Wilderness Study Area is designated as the “Cedar Mountain Special Management Area” (referred to in this subsection as the “Special Management Area”).

(B) EXCLUDED LAND.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—The land described in clause (ii) is not included in the Special Management Area.

(ii) LAND DESCRIBED.—The land referred to in clause (i) is the land designated by the Bureau as not suitable for wilderness in—

(I) the NE1⁄4 NW1⁄4 sec. 5, T. 44 N., R. 94 W;

(II) the NE1⁄4 SE1⁄4 sec. 5, T. 44 N., R. 94 W;

(III) the SW1⁄4 NE1⁄4 sec. 5, T. 44 N., R. 94 W; and

(IV) the SW1⁄4 SW1⁄4 sec. 32, T. 45 N., R. 94 W.

(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Director in a manner that—

(A) maintains the recreational, scenic, cultural, ecological, wildlife, and livestock production values of the Special Management Area; and

(B) promotes continued use of the Special Management Area for recreational activities, including hunting and wildlife viewing.

(3) TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a travel management plan for the Special Management Area.

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The travel management plan under subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) identify all existing roads and trails in the Special Management Area;

(ii) designate each road or trail available for—

(I) motorized or mechanized recreation; or

(II) agriculture practices;

(iii) prohibit the construction of any new road or trail for motorized or mechanized recreation use; and

(iv) permit the continued use of nonmotorized trails.

(4) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—

(A) USE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES FOR LIVESTOCK.—The use of motorized vehicles shall be allowed on any road in the Special Management Area for—

(i) the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of range improvements; or

(ii) other livestock-management purposes.

(B) USE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES FOR EMERGENCIES.—The use of motorized vehicles shall be allowed in the Special Management Area—

(i) for fire suppression;

(ii) for weed and pest management; and

(iii) to respond to an emergency.

(5) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered—

(A) as a nondiscretionary use; and

(B) in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau.

(6) WITHDRAWAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from—

(i) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(ii) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Interior may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if—

(i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and

(ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.

(7) RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.—

(A) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Cedar Mountain Wilderness Study Area has been adequately studied for wilderness designation and is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

(B) MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN RELEASED LAND.—The Director shall manage any land described in subparagraph (A) that is not included in the Special Management Area in a manner consistent with a resource management plan that is applicable to any land that—

(i) is managed by the Bureau; and

(ii) is similarly situated to the land described in subparagraph (A) that is not included in the Special Management Area.

(c) Release Of Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area.—

(1) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the land within the Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area—

(A) has been adequately studied for wilderness designation;

(B) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and

(C) shall be managed in accordance with this subsection.

(2) MANAGEMENT OF RELEASED LAND.—The land described in paragraph (1) shall be administered by the Director in accordance with—

(A) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(B) a resource management plan that is applicable to any land adjacent to the land described in paragraph (1).

(d) Study Of Land In Hot Springs And Washakie Counties.—

(1) DEFINITION OF COUNTIES.—In this subsection, the term “Counties” means each of the following counties in the State:

(A) Hot Springs County.

(B) Washakie County.

(2) STUDY.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall carry out a study to evaluate the potential for the development of new special motorized recreation areas in the Counties.

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—

(i) LAND INCLUDED.—The study under subparagraph (A) shall evaluate the potential for the development of new special motorized recreation areas on all land managed by the Bureau in the Counties except any land that is subject to a restriction on the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles under any Federal law, including this Act.

(ii) PUBLIC INPUT; COLLABORATION.—In carrying out the study under subparagraph (A), the Director shall—

(I) offer opportunities for public input; and

(II) collaborate with—

(aa) Wyoming Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails; and

(bb) the Counties.

(C) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the findings of the study under subparagraph (A).

SEC. 7. APPLICATION OF BLM RULE.

The proposed rule of the Bureau entitled “Conservation and Landscape Health” (88 Fed. Reg. 19583 (April 3, 2023)) or any substantially similar rule shall not apply to the land covered by this Act.

The state's GOP had gotten so extreme that even this bill was condemned by the State's GOP.

Notably, Marti Halverson, who is from Chicago, spoke against it.  Wyoming would be just like Illinois, what they fled but seek to turn the state into, but for public lands.

Shameful.