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Steff Kessler

Steff’s passion for the West brought her to Wyoming in the 70s when she started working for the National Outdoor Leadership School as a backcountry wilderness instructor. She later obtained a Masters of Education in Planning and Policy from Harvard University, which led to administrative jobs at NOLS and as executive director of the Alaska Center for the Environment based in Anchorage. She returned to Wyoming to serve as executive director of the Wyoming Outdoor Council from 1990-94, stepping down from full-time work as her family grew. Steff kept engaged with Wyoming conservation through part-time work, consulting and serving on several boards. In 2004 and 2005 she managed the successful legislative campaign creating the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust. Steff later opened and staffed The Wilderness Society’s Wyoming office for seven years, working in partnership with the Wyoming Outdoor Council and many others to secure passage of the Wyoming Range Legacy Act and protection of the Upper Hoback. During this time, she also served on the state’s Ozone Task Force and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Interior to the Pinedale Anticline Working Group. Aside from state legislative and congressional experience, Steff also understands local government concerns, having served on the Lander School Board and as a Fremont County Commissioner. She resides outside of Lander on the border of the Wind River Indian Reservation with her husband John Gans and three children.

Legislative Update – Week 3.5

Posted on by Steff Kessler

It has been a rollercoaster week in Cheyenne! First of all, thank you for contacting your legislators about SF71 – electricity production standards. This unworkable bill—an attack on renewable energy—died in committee on Tuesday; no one testified in support of it except the sponsors, and committee members noted the hundreds of emails they had received about it.

In other good news, we worked with other stakeholders and the Game and Fish Department to rework SF 25, a bill to ensure the limited confidentiality of wildlife data. We now support this bill and it has moved successfully through the Senate. Last week we also helped to stop HB 115, a dangerous bill that would have chilled enforcement actions by state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Quality.

This week is the final week for bills to advance or die for this session, and we have a slew of new bills we’re tracking. Bills we support include the following:

We oppose the following bills:

  • HB 261 – diversion dam operation and turbidity allows for blanket approval for release of waters from diversion dams, which could harm downstream users and fisheries through overload of sediments.
  • HB 272 – mountain biking decals would require a $15 fee for mountain bikes used on public lands. We are urging lawmakers to table the bill for now and evaluate user fees comprehensively during the interim. We anticipate that the Governor’s outdoor recreation task force will consider an approach to user fees that evaluates access, expanded opportunities, and maintenance.

We’re also monitoring several other bills on wildlife, state lands, and wind energy. Some of these bills may die because of deadlines (bills must pass out of committee by Thursday) and others will continue forward. We’ll keep you updated on those that move on during the session.

Unfortunately, another federal land transfer bill has been filed. It has not been introduced nor assigned to a committee. HB 293 – public lands management extension amends an archaic law to require the state to develop a plan “for the transfer and management” of federal public lands to state control. It is a back door approach to setting the stage for wholesale transfer, with no limits to sale of public lands. We strongly oppose this bill, but we do not think it can move forward this session. We will certainly send out a quick alert if there’s any indication it will move!

Thank you—our success is built upon your interest and civic engagement! Be in touch if you’d like more details about any of the bills mentioned above.

Best regards,

Stephanie Kessler, director of external relations

Legislative Update – Week Two

Posted on by Steff Kessler

I have great news! Last Friday afternoon, the President of the Senate formally killed SJ 3, the public lands transfer constitutional amendment that would have helped pave the way for the state to take over national forests and other public lands in Wyoming. This bill was so overwhelmingly opposed by the Wyoming public that it was never introduced or assigned to a committee. Legislators received many emails and calls and had a lot of in-person conversations with citizens who asked them to oppose the measure.

Thank you for your inspiring action to protect our beloved public lands! A great diversity of Wyoming people stepped forward, spoke up, stuck to your convictions and showed us the power of the grassroots! This success would not have been possible without you.

Week two news and looking ahead

Last week was productive for us in other ways, as well. We helped convene a working group to revise problems with SF 25 – wildlife location and research information. We are working toward a solution that protects the integrity of our Wyoming public records act while allowing the Game and Fish Department to keep confidential a very narrow set of data in order to protect wildlife, fair chase, and public safety. This new version should be heard in committee later this week.

We have worked with partners and gathered input from legislators to suggest an idea for a proactive bill regarding public access on public lands and hope to see this formally introduced soon. We’ve also monitored the budget work of the Joint Appropriations Committee regarding agency funding and will have more to report on expected changes with Game and Fish.

The radioactive waste storage facilities bill we shared about last week passed the Senate without any amendments and thus keeps that state law strong, but we will watch carefully as it progresses through the house.

A bill we are concerned about, HB 115 – attorney fees, will be discussed in committee today. We believe this bill could chill enforcement actions by our regulatory agencies such as the Department of Equality and thus limit court actions against polluters. We’ll keep you apprised.

A bill that has garnered a lot of concern and attention, SF 71 – electricity production standards, has been assigned to committee but is not expected to have a hearing this week. This bill would mandate only a limited list of acceptable energy sources in Wyoming and excludes wind and solar energy. Count on seeing a future alert from us if this bill moves forward.

Thank you again for your interest and civic engagement—it makes all the difference!

Best regards,

Stephanie Kessler, director of external relations

Wyoming Outdoor Council Legislative Update – Week One

Posted on by Steff Kessler

The 2017 Wyoming State Legislature convened last Tuesday and I’m writing to update you on the first week’s activities and bills that may be of interest. Since this is a general session that lasts approximately 40 work days, we have more time for legislation to develop and move.

Please check out our website’s legislation tracking page to look at the list of many bills we are monitoring, supporting, and opposing. As new bills are filed, this list will grow.

Our highest priority this session is defeating SJ3, the public lands constitutional amendment that would lay the groundwork for transferring federal public lands to the state. So far, this bill has not been introduced or assigned to a committee, but it could be fast-tracked at any time. We will alert you if it starts to move! Thank you for your citizen advocacy efforts thus far. If you haven’t sent an email to your state senator yet, you can do so here.

There are a variety of conservation-related bills we are tracking on wildlife, renewable energy, water, and environmental quality. We are encouraged to see two in-stream flow bills, SF 58 and 80, sponsored by Lander’s Senator Case, that improve the mechanics of that law. A net-metering bill, SF 68, that we supported, has already failed in committee, but we hope that committee discussion lays the groundwork for future reform of this restrictive state law. Senator Burns of Sheridan did an excellent job challenging the obsolete nature of our laws that arbitrarily restrict the growth of solar and other renewable distributed energy. Related to that topic, we are opposing the controversial SF 71 that does the same for large power sources in Wyoming.

Another bill we are monitoring with concern is SF 6, which updates the state’s old radioactive waste facility laws. Currently, the language in the bill keeps this law strong and protects Wyoming from becoming a de facto nuclear waste repository. We will quickly shift to opposing this bill if weakening amendments are brought in.

The session is very fluid right now and we expect to see many other new bills. Please feel free to contact me if you want to know more about any of the bills we are tracking, and thank you for your engagement! It makes all the difference.

For those of you in the Cheyenne area, please join us Wednesday night for “Beers and Bills” at Danielsmark Brewery—find more information and RSVP here!

Best regards,

Stephanie Kessler, director of external relations

Stand Tall for Public Lands Next Week in Cheyenne

Posted on by Steff Kessler

We need your help to continue to show strong public opposition to the agenda to seize our national forests and other public lands. An important meeting is coming up in Cheyenne.

Next week, a subcommittee of the Legislature’s Federal Natural Resource committee will hold a public meeting to hear what the public thinks about a proposed constitutional amendment that would pave the way for state takeover of public land. This bill continues a long effort—pushed by a few legislators—to advance state takeover and probable sale of our public lands.

Federal Natural Resource Management Subcommittee Meeting
When: Wednesday, December 14, 2-5 p.m.
Where: Jonah Business Center, Room L-54
3001 E Pershing Blvd.  Cheyenne, WY

Please attend the meeting in person if you can! We need citizens to speak out against this land grab effort. Even if you don’t want to speak, your presence will support others who are there and send a strong message to legislators. Contrary to what the proponents say, this amendment does not prohibit the sale of public lands. It leaves the door open for future privatization and loss of access to our outdoor heritage.

You’re also invited to join us for a free citizen orientation before the meeting, where you can learn more and get your questions answered. We’ll provide background information and talking points for those who wish to offer comments during the hearing. Lunch will be provided. RSVP here.

Free Pre-Meeting Citizen Orientation
When: Wednesday, December 14, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: Laramie County Public Library, Cottonwood Room
2200 Pioneer Ave.  Cheyenne, WY

Learn more about the proposed constitutional amendment in this blog post or check out our fact sheet. If you can’t make it to Cheyenne next week, please e-mail the committee (and be sure to cc your newly-elected legislators) to let them know our public lands are not for sale. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Stephanie Kessler, Director of External Relations

You Can Help Protect Public Lands

Posted on by Steff Kessler

uncle_samOppose the agenda to seize our national forests and other public lands

Next week, the Wyoming State Legislature’s Federal Natural Resource committee will consider a constitutional amendment to pave the way for state takeover of public lands.

When: Wednesday, November 9, 2016 starting at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Central Wyoming College, Room SC103, Riverton.
Why: This is an attempted land grab. A small group of legislators are taking extreme measures to try to wrest control of our treasured public lands. As we have seen in other Western states, this leads to privatizing these lands, limiting public access and costing the state too much.

What Can You Do?

  • SAY NO. Attend the meeting. You will have an opportunity to speak during the public comment period, if you choose. Having a crowd there will make a difference.
  • E-mail the committee members by Tuesday, November 8th to let them know you oppose land grab legislation. Make your comments as unique as possible!

What Can You Say?

  • Feel free to speak from your experience, background and values. Always be civil and respectful.
  • A state takeover of our public lands would be a threat to our way of life and it would be too costly.
  • Tell the committee to vote NO on the proposed constitutional amendment.

For more information, download a fact sheet on this amendment, read the text of the amendment itself, visit keepitpublicwyo.com or view our report on the history of public land grab efforts in Wyoming.

And here is the Legislature’s commissioned report “Study on Management of Public Lands in Wyoming” that concludes such a state takeover of management would be too costly and present major financial, administrative and legislative challenges without any real benefits to the Wyoming public.

The Case for Keeping Public Lands in Public Hands

  • The state cannot afford to manage our national forests and other public lands and will be forced to sell them off to cover the high costs of management. The state would not be able to foot the bill for fighting forest fires, road and trail maintenance, and much more. The recent $75,000 Report on Management documented these many costs and other management challenges.
  • Wyoming manages its state lands for profit and this same emphasis will drive newly acquired lands. The Legislature could seek to sell off these lands to gain quick fixes to budget woes.
  • This effort will result in our public lands privatized and loss of public access. Under the guise of “transferring” ownership or management, it all leads to the same place—privatizing our public lands, control by special interests, and sales to the highest bidders.
  • Our Wyoming public lands are fundamental to our character, our way of life, and the legacy we leave our kids. Our outdoor traditions make us who we are. We want our children and grandchildren to have this access too.
  • We support our unique, democratic American birthright—envied by the rest of the world—of wildlife as a public resource and wild landscapes where the public is free to roam. Each of us is a part owner of the largest piece of public real estate in the world, and thus, every American is rich in opportunities to hunt, fish, hike and explore.

Growth in Solar Can Help our State: Time to Update Wyoming’s Antiquated Rules

Posted on by Steff Kessler

With our current economic downturn and loss of jobs, it’s important that Wyoming consider what it can do to assist the growth of new economies and capitalize on our state’s natural assets. The Cowboy State’s solar rays have the eighth greatest energy potential in the nation, but we rank 45th nationally in our installed solar capacity and 43rd in jobs per capita.

Although California, Arizona, North Carolina, New Jersey and Nevada top the list for solar market development, it is instructive for us to look across our southern border for a glimpse of the solar market possibilities of a Rocky Mountain state with prominent energy, ranching and tourism economies.

In Colorado, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, there are 438 businesses working in some sector of the solar industry; from manufacturing, to engineering to solar installation. In 2015 alone, $305 million was invested in Colorado solar installations. Over the next five years, Colorado is expected to quadruple its solar by installing 1,738 megawatts of solar electric capacity.

Here in Wyoming it’s a different story. We have only a few dozen people employed in solar as compared to 5,000 in Colorado. Compared to Colorado’s 504 megawatts of installed solar power, Wyoming now has about 1.8 megawatts. An expansion of our renewable energy workforce could provide welcome relief to the families and towns suffering from job losses in our traditional energy sectors.

New solar jobs will arise and solar investment will occur in Wyoming when we have a regulatory framework that allows markets to thrive. State-level decisions by legislators, the Wyoming Public Service Commission, our electric utilities and our voters, can create a more welcoming environment for development and a lasting demand for solar-generated energy and all of its related jobs.

One reason Wyoming has fallen behind is that our solar net metering rule is antiquated. An update — especially to the cap on the size of solar projects — will help to remove barriers from solar project development. Improvements in the law will help agricultural, small commercial and residential users and pave the way for larger projects such as community solar gardens.

Please let your legislators and other state officials know that the time has come to update Wyoming’s solar regulations and help fuel the diversification of Wyoming’s economy.

The above was submitted as an op-ed to the Casper Star-Tribune by Scott Kane. Scott has worked in the solar industry for 15 years. He is the co-owner of Creative Energies, a Lander-based solar energy systems provider.

Media Release: New Report Issued by the Wyoming Outdoor Council Details State Legislature’s Public Land Grab Efforts

Posted on by Steff Kessler

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2016

Wyoming Public Lands: For Sale and for the Few?

New Report Issued by the Wyoming Outdoor Council Details State Legislature’s Public Land Grab Efforts

LANDER — Some Wyoming state legislators are pursuing a long-term plan of seizing public lands within Wyoming with the clear intent of allowing some of these lands to be sold to private interests.

In a report released on Thursday, the Wyoming Outdoor Council details the public legislative record— which not only illustrates an intent to sell public lands, but also to favor special interests over the public in decisions about our shared public lands.

“Seven of these land-grab bills have been introduced in the last four sessions alone,” said Steff Kessler of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “Many of these bills include language about sale of public lands, once acquired by the state. The record is clear: some lawmakers want to see our national forests and other public lands privatized.”

Changing politics in the United States Congress has brought about a new reality, Kessler said, which makes these state-level legislative efforts more dangerous than they were in the past.

“If state legislators can demonstrate what appears to be local support for the takeover of public lands, there is a real chance that this U.S. Congress will move to allow these lands to be handed over to the state,” Kessler said. “And here’s why that’s dangerous: Once our public lands are seized and auctioned off, public access disappears—there goes our longstanding freedom to hunt, fish, camp, ski, snowmobile, you name it.”

The white paper, titled “Our Public Lands—For Sale and For the Few? A Recent History of the Wyoming State Legislature’s Land Grab Efforts” outlines the incremental approach state lawmakers are taking to “chip away, year by year and bill by bill, at opposition, while also moving Wyoming closer to the goal of state seizure and sale of public lands.”

Neil Short is an attorney from Casper and an avid outdoorsman who has followed the legislative history of this effort and strongly opposes the premise behind it. “The freedom to enter upon public lands to hunt, to fish, to ride horses or ATVs, to snowmobile, to hike, climb, and run– is at the very heart of our Wyoming way of life,” he stated. “Transfer of public lands to the states would be just a quick stop on the way to privatization.”

Short also reminded residents that once lands are transferred, the locals lose out. “The highest bidders would be absentee billionaires and even foreign corporations.  Once our lands are transferred, our Wyoming way of life is gone forever.”

Nyssa Whitford, a Lander business owner, highlighted the potential impacts to recreational businesses.

“Our business, The Bike Mill, depends on public lands. All the riding areas around Lander are on public land and trails. People come into our shop for bikes, apparel, mechanical service, and other merchandise. If our public lands are taken away, where will our customers ride? How will our business stay open?”

Whitford pointed out the additional economic benefits of public lands. “I would not live in Lander if there was no access to recreation on public lands. I suspect many other people feel the same way. Taking away our public lands would be detrimental to our local economy. It would be harder to attract quality applicants and people would move elsewhere to get the quality of life they crave.”

Darren Wells, a professor of outdoor education in Fremont County, noted that “Students come to Wyoming from all over the US to study outdoor education on our public lands. Without access to these areas, we would be confined to the classroom. These public recreational areas are fantastic and access is appropriately managed for commercial outfitters and educational organizations. Shifting land management to the state would be disastrous for outdoor education and recreation. US history shows us that the end result would be privatization of our wildlife habitat, hunting areas, fishing holes, and hiking and biking trails.”

John Parr, a retired veteran and lifelong hunter and angler from Cheyenne reflected on what could happen to Wyoming. “When I was in the service and stationed in Beaumont Texas, I learned that there was no public hunting there. All the land was privately owned. I don’t want Wyoming to turn into a Texas, where you have to pay to hunt. That’s what we’d get if the state takes over our public lands.”

Allison Baas, a Green River mother of two cited the importance of this issue to her family. “When my husband and I moved to Wyoming to raise our family, our largest motivating factor was the access to our public lands.  Wyoming offered the access for my family to learn hunting and angler ethics as well as preservation of our habitat.  As we backpack, hunt and fish across our great state my girls learn the importance of the ecosystems and how related we are to the planet.”

Terry Jones, a Wheatland farmer and avid sportsman, agreed. “In Wyoming, our outdoor traditions make us who we are. I think we all want our children and grandchildren to have this access. An attack on our public lands is an attack on our way of life here.“

The Wyoming Outdoor Council report can be found on their website.

Wyoming Public Lands Initiative: Facts for Johnson County and How to Participate

Posted on by Steff Kessler

Johnson County Residents: You can help determine the future of some of our most beloved local landscapes!

What is the Johnson County Wyoming Public Lands Initiative?

The Johnson County Commission recently announce its participation in the statewide Wyoming Public Lands Initiative. This is a major stakeholder effort to consider the fate of wilderness study areas (WSAs) and possibly other public lands, in each county that participates. The ultimate goal is to develop a legislative package to be submitted to Congress.

Click here for a copy of the application for the Johnson County advisory group. The application deadline is September 1, 2016. This is a complex process, so please take a look at our Johnson County Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Fact Sheet for more information.

What areas will be considered?

The Johnson County Commissioners are looking for volunteers to participate on their Advisory Committee for this collaborative process that will consider the future status of the North Fork and Garner Mountain wilderness study areas in the southern Big Horn Mountains. We encourage you to apply! We understand that they are interested in recruiting committee members that are familiar with either of these areas, and you do not need to be a  Johnson County resident.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions, and let me know how I can help!

All the best,

Steff Kessler
Steff_mug_black&white

Wyoming Public Land Initiative: Facts for Sublette County & How to Participate

Posted on by Steff Kessler

Sublette County Residents: You can help determine the future of some of our most beloved local landscapes!

Photo: Fred Pflughoft
Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area Photo: Fred Pflughoft

What is the Sublette County Wyoming Public Lands Initiative?

The Sublette County Commission has initiated a formal collaborative process to consider the future management of its Bureau of Land Management wilderness study areas. The commissioners are looking for local citizen involvement to help craft a proposal for public land legislation that will be forwarded to Congress.

Click here for a copy of the application for the Sublette County advisory group. The application deadline is June 6, 2016. This is a complex process, so please take a look at our Sublette County Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Fact Sheet for more information.

What areas will be considered?

The Wyoming Public Land Initiative focuses first on wilderness study areas (WSAs) but can include other beloved local landscapes. For Sublette County, this means Scab Creek WSA, Shoal Creek WSA, and Lake Mountain WSA will be evaluated but other landscapes that would benefit from public land legislation, including the Upper Green or along the southern Wind Rivers could also be considered.

Please join us at an informational meeting to learn more about this process and how you can participate and share your local knowledge and perspectives!

Tuesday, May 31 – Pinedale
6-7:30 p.m., Sublette County Library

Refreshments will be provided! For more information, contact Steff Kessler, (307) 438-0187 or stephanie@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org

Support solar energy in Wyoming – Tuesday, May 10

Posted on by Steff Kessler

The Legislature’s Joint Interim Corporations Committee is meeting in Lander next week on Monday, May 9, and Tuesday, May 10. The Wyoming Outdoor Council will be making a formal presentation on the underutilized potential of solar energy in the state’s energy mix.

The presentation will highlight future opportunities for market expansion, job growth, and economic diversification. We will recommend removing some of the  regulatory barriers to solar energy growth and advocate a study of the opportunities for this economic sector in Wyoming.

The committee starts its meeting on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Lander Inn and we anticipate that this topic will be first on the agenda that day. We welcome you to come and listen, and comment to the committee if you’d like! The morning’s session should conclude by noon that day.