WWA opposes bill from Senator Barrasso, which would also place an unwelcome financial burden on Wyoming.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: On June 11, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso introduced S.4765, the "Let America Build" (LAB) Act which aims to create a process for the state of Wyoming to apply for exclusive authority to issue drilling permits, plans, and rights-of-way to oil and gas companies, as well as to process applications regardless of whether the federal government is carrying out any review related to an application authorization.
The Let America Build Act follows on the heels of Senate Joint Resolution 1, "State management – federal mineral leases,” introduced during the 2026 state legislative session, which similarly sought to allow Wyoming to manage federal oil and gas leasing. Proponents of both SJ1 and S.4765 have openly expressed their desire for these programs to pave the way for the transfer of public lands to the state, and then into private hands.
“They see it as a way to keep the door wedged open in their ongoing effort to sell off public lands,” states Aaron Bannon, WWA Executive Director.
The LAB Act, like SJ1, also does not adequately address the financial burden and liability to the State of Wyoming if it were to pursue state management of federal oil and gas leases. Oil and gas lease sales as administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have a set process and timeline that are well established.
Through its quarterly leasing process the BLM analyzes the parcels for relevant conflicts that must be managed for, such as existing overlaying Resource Management Plans, the presence of critical habitat for endangered species, considerations for the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Management and Policy Act (FLPMA) and other relevant laws, rules and regulations.
Management prescriptions such as historic trails corridors, Wilderness Study Areas, mineral withdrawals, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, migratory species impacts, visual resource management and other stipulations must all be considered and incorporated into appropriate lease sale parameters.
“If Wyoming takes on oil and gas leasing it still must comply with all federal laws, rules, and plans and there is no kickback from the federal government for doing so,” states WWA Executive Director, Aaron Bannon. “Last year more oil and gas leases were offered to the industry than were bid on. Why take on the cost of managing a program that is already working well for the industry? This is a solution in search of a problem.”
And, as the goal of this program is to pave the way for transferring public lands out of public hands, the LAB Act also goes against the values that all Wyomingites share, to have public lands that are managed to balance multiple uses with public access and enjoyment. WWA strongly encourages Senator Barrasso to reconsider the long-term impacts of this program and withdraw S.4765.