Federal land plan for northeastern Wyoming wiped out by lawmakers

What does this do?

A joint resolution canceled the Bureau of Land Management's November 2024 land management plan for the Buffalo Field Office area in northeastern Wyoming. The plan had governed how millions of acres of federal land in the Powder River Basin would be used. With the cancellation, the plan has no legal force and the land reverts to rules that were in place before it was finalized.

Who does it affect?

Those directly affected include ranchers grazing livestock on federal land, energy companies involved in oil, gas, and coal operations, local Wyoming communities and governments that rely on those industries, and environmental and recreation groups. BLM land managers must now operate under the older framework until a new plan is developed.

Why does it matter?

The canceled plan had set guidelines for oil and gas development, coal leasing, grazing, and conservation on those federal lands. Reverting to the prior framework means the newer BLM guidelines no longer apply, and the agency will need to develop a replacement plan to address land use going forward.

Where does it stand?