Committee approves bill codifying tribal notification for industrial‑siting projects near Fremont County
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The Wyoming Senate Minerals Committee voted to pass Senate File 16, a bill that would codify a requirement to notify the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of industrial‑siting project applications and hearings for projects in Fremont County or in counties adjacent to Fremont.
Todd Parfitt, Director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, explained the bill defines "tribal government" for this purpose as the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho and would require notice of applications and hearing dates for industrial siting projects in Fremont County and adjacent counties. Parfitt listed the counties covered in committee testimony as Fremont, Natrona, Carbon, Sweetwater, Sublette, Teton, Park, Hot Springs and Washakie.
Parfitt told the committee the practice of notifying tribes had been done informally when tribes requested to be on agency mailing lists; the bill would codify that notification requirement for the listed counties. He said it would not change tribes' legal standing in hearings or make them eligible for impact assistance payments: "This bill does not give party status to the tribes, and they would not be eligible for any impact assistance payments," he said.
Representatives from the governor's office and tribal liaisons spoke in support. Kia Wetland, special counsel for tribal relations in Governor Mark Gordon's office, said the governor's office supports the bill. Nida Roman (Northern Arapaho liaison) and James Charles (Eastern Shoshone liaison) told the committee the tribes had been receiving notices and appreciated the codification; Travis McNevin, representing the Northern Arapaho Business Council, also voiced support and reiterated that the tribe understood the bill did not change party status or financial distributions.
The committee moved to pass Senate File 16; the motion carried on a roll call vote with Senators Cooper, Jones, Nethercott, Rothfuss and Chairman Anderson recorded as "Aye." Senator Mike Cooper was named as the floor sponsor.
Background and scope: committee testimony specified the change applies only to the two named tribes and only for projects in Fremont County and counties adjacent to it; other tribes may comment on projects but would not receive the statutorily required notice unless added by law.
Votes at a glance: Senate File 16 — Motion to pass moved by Senator Mike Cooper, seconded by Senator Jones; roll call Ayes 5, Nays 0; outcome: passed to the floor.
Todd Parfitt, Director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, explained the bill defines "tribal government" for this purpose as the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho and would require notice of applications and hearing dates for industrial siting projects in Fremont County and adjacent counties. Parfitt listed the counties covered in committee testimony as Fremont, Natrona, Carbon, Sweetwater, Sublette, Teton, Park, Hot Springs and Washakie.
Parfitt told the committee the practice of notifying tribes had been done informally when tribes requested to be on agency mailing lists; the bill would codify that notification requirement for the listed counties. He said it would not change tribes' legal standing in hearings or make them eligible for impact assistance payments: "This bill does not give party status to the tribes, and they would not be eligible for any impact assistance payments," he said.
Representatives from the governor's office and tribal liaisons spoke in support. Kia Wetland, special counsel for tribal relations in Governor Mark Gordon's office, said the governor's office supports the bill. Nida Roman (Northern Arapaho liaison) and James Charles (Eastern Shoshone liaison) told the committee the tribes had been receiving notices and appreciated the codification; Travis McNevin, representing the Northern Arapaho Business Council, also voiced support and reiterated that the tribe understood the bill did not change party status or financial distributions.
The committee moved to pass Senate File 16; the motion carried on a roll call vote with Senators Cooper, Jones, Nethercott, Rothfuss and Chairman Anderson recorded as "Aye." Senator Mike Cooper was named as the floor sponsor.
Background and scope: committee testimony specified the change applies only to the two named tribes and only for projects in Fremont County and counties adjacent to it; other tribes may comment on projects but would not receive the statutorily required notice unless added by law.
Votes at a glance: Senate File 16 — Motion to pass moved by Senator Mike Cooper, seconded by Senator Jones; roll call Ayes 5, Nays 0; outcome: passed to the floor.
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