A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
ALBANY COUNTY, WYOMING
RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF FEDERAL LANDS TO THE ECONOMY,
RECREATION, HERITAGE, AND QUALITY OF AND OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL
FOR THE STATE OF WYOMING TO TAKE WHOLESALE OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC
LANDS WITHIN THE STATE OF WYOMING

WHEREAS, Albany County includes some of the most beautiful and iconic landscapes on Earth,
much of which is federal public lands owned by all Americans, and,

WHEREAS, these federal public lands, which comprise 24% of the land area of Albany County,
provide public recreational opportunities for residents and visitors for wildlife watching, hiking,
hunting, ?shing, backpacking, boating, riding snow machines and all?terrain vehicles, horseback
riding, skiing, bicycling, sightseeing, and numerous other outdoor recreational activities; and,

WHEREAS, these federal public lands provide essential habitat for some of America?s greatest
wildlife populations; and,

WHEREAS, federal public lands in Albany County, Wyoming have a signi?cant effect on tourism
in Albany County and across the State of Wyoming; and,

WHEREAS, federal ownership and management of public lands in Albany County assure both the
stewardship and preservation of these nationally signi?cant lands and the wildlife and natural
resources they contain; and,

WHEREAS, Albany County residents collaborate among diverse interests and with public land
managers to improve public land management and public access; and,

WHEREAS, federal public land management agencies employ residents of Albany County who are
passionate and expert at their jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to our community; and,

WHEREAS, Albany County?s forests are naturally prone to ?re, including periodic large?scale ?res,
as part of the ecosystem in which they have evolved over millennia, although a warming climate
has accentuated the process; and federal money and expertise to suppress wild?res is essential to
protecting our communities, infrastructure, and public lands; and,

WHEREAS, continued federal ownership and management of public lands in Albany County insure
both public access to and environmental protection of these lands and the resources they contain.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE ALBANY COUNTY, WYOMING BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: that the Board of County Commissioners of Albany County,
Wyoming opposes any and all efforts by the State of Wyoming to obtain the wholesale transfer of
federal lands in Wyoming to the State of Wyoming, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of
County Commissioners strongly supports federal ownership and management of public lands in
Albany County and the incredible value federal lands bring to our county?s economy, recreation,
heritage, and quality of life.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS DAY OF JUNE, 2015 IN ALBANY COUNTY, WYOMING

 

 

Tim Sullivan, Chairman Tim Chesnut, Commissioner

 

Heber Richardson, Commissioner

ATTEST:

 

Jackie R. Gonzales, County Clerk