BLM Cody issues decision on bentonite mining plan in Park County
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CODY, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office has released its decision to authorize a bentonite mining project in Park County, in line with the BLM’s commitment to supporting sustainable, working public lands for the American people.
Wilson Brothers Construction, Inc. of Cowley, Wyoming, plans to mine approximately 48 acres within a 55-acre permit area on BLM-managed federal land in the Diamond Basin area, 7 miles southwest of Cody.
The BLM received initial comments on the proponent’s original plan of operations in 2014. Based on the input received from all interested parties, the proponent made several revisions to its plan, which the BLM analyzed in an environmental assessment. The environmental assessment was released for public review and comments on Jan. 18, 2018. Through evaluation of resource impacts and application of numerous mitigation measures that protect resource values, the BLM was able to reach a finding of no significant impact.
As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for multiple uses, and mining is a traditional use that continues to serve local communities. Bentonite is used in a variety of products and industries including for oil and gas development, bonding material and cat litter. The project is expected to provide an estimated 140,000 tons of bentonite from public lands over the 3-5-year life of the project, and will continue to support jobs and other services that benefit from an active mining operation.
The environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact and decision record are available for review online at https://go.usa.gov/xndTb. The plan of operations submitted by Wilson Brothers is available for review at the BLM Cody Field Office, 1002 Blackburn Street.
For more information, please contact BLM Assistant Field Manager Chad Krause at (307) 578-5900.
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.