Guest Editorial: Commissioners respond to outcry over Pronghorn

The Converse County Board of Commissioners would like to address the recent public discussion and concerns surrounding the proposed Pronghorn H2 project on public lands within Converse County. Based on the project information presented to the State Board of Land Commissioners (SBLC), the commissioners recognize that there are several aspects of the proposal that would raise concerns if they were presented to the county in a formal application at this time.

We want to clearly state that we are listening to the public. We recognize and respect the outcry of resistance and the concerns raised by many citizens regarding this project. The voices of our residents matter, and public input is an important part of any industrial development discussion in our county. At the same time, the commissioners have a legal obligation to act only when a county application is formally submitted. Until a complete application and full project details are before us, taking a position for or against the project based on assumptions would be a dereliction of our responsibility to ensure a fair and lawful process for all parties.

It is also important for the public to understand the role of the Converse County Commissioners in this process. To date, no permit application for the Pronghorn H2 project has been submitted to Converse County. The only action to date has been a lease request reviewed and presented to the State Board of Land Commissioners. By statute, the Converse County commissioners do not have authority over SBLC decisions and do not have the legal ability to approve or deny that ruling. In simple terms, the state may become just another landowner within the proposed project area.

Throughout this process, the commissioners have worked to better understand — and to help the public understand — our responsibilities under Wyoming law when it comes to large-scale industrial applications. To assist in that effort, we are including a document that has been legally vetted and outlines the statutory obligations and limitations placed on county commissioners in these matters. (That document can be viewed on the county website, www.conversecountywy.gov)

It is also important to note that Converse County does not have zoning regulations. Instead, after significant public input, the county has adopted a Land Use Plan. This plan serves as a guidance document that must be reviewed for consistency by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies when federal actions are proposed in Converse County. While the Land Use Plan is extremely important in those contexts, state law and court rulings make clear that it is not an enforceable regulatory document. As residents review the attached information (available online), we ask that it be read with this legal framework in mind, as it explains how land use decisions are guided in the absence of zoning authority.

We recognize the perspectives and concerns of our citizens, and we remain committed to transparency, adherence to the law, and open communication. Our goal is to ensure the public understands both how decisions are made and the legal framework within which your elected commissioners must operate.

Respectfully,
Converse County Commissioners
Jim Willox, Donald Blackburn, Rick Grant, Robert Short
and Trent Kaufman