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Photo courtesy of Timothy C. Mayo
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Dear Supporter,
The transition to fall and the end of the year always feels brimming with possibility. Alongside anticipation for turning the page to a new year, I feel grateful for what we’ve been able to accomplish in the last nine months. I also know our work is far from finished. Next week, Sierra Club Wyoming staff and board members will convene at our annual retreat to reflect on our work, discuss our priorities for the coming year, and start laying the groundwork for 2025. In that spirit, we want to take the opportunity to say thank you for helping us make major progress towards protecting our public lands, wildlife, and climate this year.
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Celebrating Our Progress
Thank you for helping protect the Red Desert!
Following years of advocacy around the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP), which encompasses Wyoming's iconic Red Desert, we are nearly across the finish line. While the final iteration of the plan has some major conservation victories, we took the opportunity to provide a final word on where BLM got it wrong for some key areas in the field office. In total, 15 Sierra Club activists submitted a protest, asking for a stronger final plan and explanations for why certain protections for our landscapes and climate were removed. Thank you to everyone who has helped us get to this moment. We will share the final plan with you all as soon as it is released.
The end of coal leasing in the Powder River Basin
Late last month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decided to move forward with ending new coal leasing on public lands in the Powder River Basin. The agency responded to protests from Wyoming elected officials and industry groups for their Buffalo and Miles City Resource Management plans, denying requests to keep coal leasing open. This is the first time BLM has ever declined to allow new coal leasing on public lands in this kind of plan and the first time the agency has ever analyzed the non-climate, localized public health effects of burning coal mined from public lands, a direct result of Sierra Club’s litigation efforts on the issue. This is a major victory for our climate, health, and public lands.
Wyoming regional haze
SCWY’s Climate and Energy Volunteer Team has been hard at work protecting our national parks and wilderness areas from haze causing air pollution. Our team, along with our partners, helped generate thousands of comments to the Environmental Protection Agency, supporting their decision to disapprove the worst parts of Wyoming’s lackluster plan to curb emissions. Now we need your help to keep the pressure on and ensure that the agency follows through. Please take a moment to add your name to our partner petition encouraging the EPA to get this plan finalized.
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Upcoming Events
Indigenous Peoples Day
The Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter and Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative invite you to our second annual bison tour and dinner on October 14, Indigenous Peoples Day. Patti & Jason Baldes, experts with the Wind River Native Advocacy Center and Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, will lead a tour of the bison herd and share their thoughts on the significance of buffalo restoration to Native nations. Following the tour, we will have dinner at the Wind River buffalo camp, sponsored by the Sierra Club. Feel free to bring a side to share! The night will end with music, dancing, and a bonfire. This event is free and open to the public. We welcome you to join us for this incredible opportunity.
Date: October 14, 2024
When: 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: 10929 US-26, Kinnear, WY
Venue: Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative Headquarters, buffalo camp
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“A Buffalo Story” film screening
Please join us on November 2, 2024, National Bison Day, for a film screening of an award-winning film documentary, A Buffalo Story, which is centered on buffalo and the story of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) and Wind River region. This film shares the story behind Wyoming buffalo restoration, led by Indigenous ecologists, community leaders, and activists. It shares the work, mission, and tremendous momentum of WRTBI’s work to bring back buffalo. The film is produced by Colin Ruggiero and funded by the National Wildlife Federation.
Learn more about the documentary here.
Date: November 2, 2024
When: Doors open at 3:00pm, movie starts at 4:00pm, panel discussion and food to follow
Where: Laramie, WY
Venue: Berry Biodiversity Center, University of Wyoming
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Outings Recap
Adobe Town
Our final outing of the year took us to Adobe Town, where we hiked among the hoodoos and talked about Wilderness Study Areas and the Sierra Club’s hope to see them managed as Wilderness in the future. Enjoy the following photos of our trip, courtesy of Chris Folsom.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us in the great outdoors for one (or more!) of our 2024 outings. We had a blast exploring just a few of the gems our state has to offer this summer.
Have an outing idea for next year? Contact our Outings Program Leader, Ellen Currano. |
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I hope to see you on the trail soon!
Cheers,
Rob Joyce
Chapter Director
Sierra Club Wyoming
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