WASTEWATER PLANNING: The Teton County Commissioners have approved funding to begin crafting a comprehensive wastewater management plan. The Wyoming Outdoor Council advocated for this important step toward addressing nitrate pollution in the area’s groundwater and our partner organization Protect Our Water Jackson Hole is contributing half the cost of the planning effort, up to $250,000.
TETON COUNTY CREEKS: The Teton County Board of Health has placed signs at public access points along Fish and Flat creeks, warning tubers and anglers about high levels of harmful bacteria in the water. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality listed all of Fish Creek and a portion of Flat Creek as “impaired” by E. coli earlier this year, meaning the water isn’t considered safe for swimming. The Outdoor Council is working toward solutions to address this dangerous condition.
CONVERSE COUNTY OIL AND GAS PROJECT: We are preparing to file a protest of the final environmental impact statement for a 5,000 well oil and gas project in Converse County and related amendments to a federal land use plan. If approved, the alternative selected by the Bureau of Land Management would waive existing protections for hawks and falcons, and potentially wipe out dozens of sage-grouse leks.
ENERGY TRANSITION: We recently submitted comments to the Wyoming Public Service Commission on Rocky Mountain Power’s Integrated Resource Plan, which seeks to add new wind and solar energy generation in Wyoming and other Western states as coal-fired plants are retired over the coming years. We urged the PSC to work with Rocky Mountain Power to prepare for changes to the energy economy and develop transition plans for affected coal workers and communities.
Alan
Rogers
Communications Director
Staff