BLM approves Greasewood Creek bentonite mine in Albany County
RAWLINS, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management has approved the Greasewood Creek bentonite mine near Medicine Bow in Albany County. Wyoming bentonite comprises as much as 70 percent of the world's known supply and is used for industrial and consumer products including kitty litter, drilling mud, binder in foundry molds, and iron ore pelletizing.
After undergoing an environmental analysis of planned work, the BLM decided that Wyo Silver, LLC, may extract bentonite from about 648 acres of federal mineral estate beneath a mix of BLM and state-managed public lands over the next 10 years.
The company must operate under a permit from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality – Land Quality Division, which directs requirements for development. The company must return the site to its natural state once mining is complete. That work includes backfilling and contouring to blend the site with adjacent native lands, topsoil redistribution to create a suitable seedbed, and seeding with a state-approved seed mix.
Projects like this support President Trump’s Executive Order 14241, “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production,” to boost domestic mineral production and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign minerals, enhance national security, and create jobs.
Additional information, including the final environmental assessment and decision record, is available at the BLM National NEPA Register. For more information, please contact the Rawlins Field Office at 307-328-4224 or [email protected].
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.