Worland Field Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307-347-5207 |
BLM Worland Seeks Input on Proposed Bentonite Mining Project
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Worland Field Office is seeking public comments on a proposed bentonite mining project near Thermopolis, Wyo.
Wyo-Ben, Inc. proposes to conduct new bentonite mining and concurrent reclamation on public land in the Rattlesnake Gulch area located east of Thermopolis in Hot Springs County. Wyo-Ben has been mining in the area since the 1970s and proposes to expand its bentonite mining operations by a maximum of 73 acres. The cast-back mining operation will occur on 10 to 15 acres per year for a proposed 7 to 10 years.
The Worland Field Office will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the impacts of the proposed project. The plan of operations submitted by Wyo-Ben is available for review at the Worland Field Office, 101 S. 23rd, Worland, Wyoming. More information including a map of the area can be found on the website at: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/wfo/wyo-ben-projects.html.
Public input is valuable early in the process and will enable the BLM to develop a well-informed EA. This initial public comment period runs from January 20 through February 18, 2011. Comments may be emailed to worland_wymail@blm.gov; please include "Wyo-Ben" in the subject line. Comments may also be mailed to AFM Minerals and Lands, BLM Worland Field Office, P.O. Box 119, Worland, WY 82401.
For more information, please contact BLM Geologist Marilyn Wegweiser at 307-347-5100.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.