Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND — Cheyenne attorney Harriet Hageman, who focuses on water and natural resource matters, joined a meeting of the Washakie Conservation District Board, local legislators and county officials via Zoom to discuss the 30 x 30 Biden Administration proposal.
The executive order issued Jan. 27, sets one goal of conserving 30% of the land and 30% of the waters in the country by 2030 and 50% by 2050 to combat climate change. She noted that the executive order, however, does not explain how the “land grab” will actually combat climate change and it does not identify a legal authority.
She said currently the federal government owns 12% of surface lands in the United States with 641 million acres. In Wyoming, the federal government owns 48% of the surface lands thus to reach 30% and 50% the federal government will have to focus on private property and there are several ways to do that including conservation easements.
“I am absolutely unapologetic about protecting private property owner rights,” Hageman said.
She said she does not believe any of the federal agencies will target any lands on the eastern part of the United States but rather the focus will be in the west.
She said Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has led the charge to oppose the executive order and issued his own executive order.
Nebraska has held town hall meetings and workshops. In a letter to residents Ricketts wrote, “In Nebraska, 97% of our land is privately owned. Getting to 30% would require a major federal intervention that would trample on both the State of Nebraska’s sovereignty and individual property rights. Setting aside that much land and water for conservation would also devastate food production, our rural communities, and our state’s overall economy.”
As of Monday 67 counties have passed resolutions opposing the 30x30 plan in Nebraska with 26 taking no action at this time.
Ricketts’ order pauses any regulatory expansion to the definition of endangered species for 18 months; bans the use of State agency “discretionary resources to support projects involving perpetual conservation easements; NDA Director Steve Wellman has submitted a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture informing the USDA of its need to seek required approvals from local governments for any conservation easements in Nebraska related to federal programs.”
Hageman told those gathered last Wednesday, Dec. 15 at the WCCD meeting to “pass resolutions against the 30x30 and encourage legislators to do that.”
WCCD Board member Dan Rice said the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts approved a resolution at its recent meeting Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Cody.
According to the resolution, the immediate pause by the federal executive order of all new oil and gas leases on pubic lands “has had an immediate impact on the economy, welfare and well-being of the State of Wyoming.”
The WACD further stated in the resolution that “the well-being, health, safety, welfare, economic condition and culture of Wyoming, its businesses and its citizens depend on private land ownership and the use of these resources and many of Wyoming’s businesses and its citizens are involved in or other wise depend on industries that utilize private lands and their resources, including livestock grazing, crop production, oil and gas exploration and production, mining and mineral development, recreational industries, hunting and other outdoor recreation.”
The WACD also noted in the resolution that designating lands as wilderness does not assure preservation. “Left in an undisturbed or natural state, these lands are highly susceptible to wildland wildfires, noxious weeds, insect infestation and disease, all of which degrades the natural and human environment.”
The WACD in the resolution also seeks for Conservation Districts to have an opportunity to participate as cooperating agencies regarding any action taken by a federal agency in relation to the 30x30 executive order.
He said there is a lot of concern in the West but there is also concern in the East as he has heard from conservation districts back East and their concern is the regulatory aspect.
The 30x30 order will likely impact local taxes, Rice said, based on change of land use from private to federal.
State Rep. John Winter (R-Thermopolis) said people need to review their current conservation easements.