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119-s-681119th Congress

Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Barrasso, John [R-WY]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create multiple new protected areas and detailed management rules for federal lands in Wyoming, including wilderness areas, a Dubois National Conservation Area, and special management areas. It also releases selected Wilderness Study Areas for new management and requires a study of potential motorized recreation areas in two counties.

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  • Outdoor users and local counties: Establishes the Dubois National Conservation Area of about 4,446 acres and a Dubois Motorized Recreation Area of about 368 acres. The bill limits motorized use in the NCA to existing routes and requires travel management plans and a two year study for new motorized areas in Hot Springs and Washakie Counties.
  • Ranchers and grazing permit holders: Grazing where already established would continue and be managed under the Wilderness Act and applicable land management law.
  • Energy and mining interests: Many areas would be withdrawn from mining, mineral, and geothermal leasing and from new wind and solar rights of way. Oil and gas activity would be allowed only by directional drilling from leases outside the protected areas and without surface occupancy.
  • Conservation, wildlife, and land managers: Adds several wilderness areas (for example, Encampment River Canyon at about 4,524 acres and Bobcat Draw at about 6,247 acres) and creates SMAs focused on habitat, forest health, watershed, and scenic protection, with travel plans required within two years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Changes to wilderness study lands and use

If enacted, the bill would remove section 603(c) wilderness study protections for many named study areas that are not made wilderness by this bill. For released lands, the Secretary must manage them under FLPMA and land‑use plans. For Bobcat Draw released land, a travel plan is required within two years and no new motorized roads would be allowed; any oil or gas lease there must use directional drilling from outside and ban surface disturbance. For Copper Mountain released land, oil and gas leases would require directional drilling only, and new wind, solar, overhead transmission, or towers would be prohibited.

Dubois Badlands conservation and motorized area

If enacted, the bill would create the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area of about 4,446 acres and a 368‑acre Dubois Motorized Recreation Area. Interior would limit motorized use to roads and trails that existed on the date of enactment, except for administrative and emergency uses. The Secretary could build a fence on the western boundary of the motorized area and must make a travel plan after the fence is done. The NCA land would be withdrawn from mining and mineral leasing, subject to existing rights.

New rules for Special Management Areas

If enacted, the bill would set the same management rules for multiple Special Management Areas. No new permanent roads would be allowed and motorized or mechanized use would be limited to existing designated routes, with travel plans due within two years. Commercial timber harvesting would be prohibited and grazing would continue under applicable law. The Black Cat SMA would be run by the Forest Service and get its travel plan within two years. The Fraker Mountain and North Fork SMAs would forbid building recreation infrastructure. The Sweetwater Rocks SMA would ban new overhead transmission and communications towers and stop wind and solar right-of-way leasing on that land, subject to existing rights.

New wilderness protections for ranchers and neighbors

If enacted, the bill would create several new wilderness areas in Wyoming, including areas of about 6,247 and 1,100 acres. The designations would limit new development and protect scenic, wildlife, and recreational values. The Secretary would finish a fire and forest health plan within 180 days. Grazing that existed before enactment could continue under Wilderness Act rules. The bill says it would not create buffer or perimeter zones.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Barrasso, John [R-WY]

WY • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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