Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Highway22 Pre Nepa topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teton County approves outgoing letter to WYDOT urging phased NEPA approach, asks for EIS and community coordination
Summary
The board approved a staff‑drafted letter to the Wyoming Department of Transportation asking WYDOT to treat the Highway 22 corridor screening as sufficient to trigger an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to analyze phased, incremental alternatives and safety first measures; the motion passed unanimously.
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on July 1 approved outgoing correspondence to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) responding to WYDOT's early pre‑NEPA screening for the Highway 22 corridor. The approved letter requests that WYDOT and federal partners consider a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), analyze at least one phased implementation alternative, and coordinate further with county staff and local stakeholders on safety and right‑of‑way issues.
The county's letter asks WYDOT to include adaptive, phased approaches in the NEPA scoping so the public can evaluate whether incremental, less‑disruptive and lower‑cost measures could meet transportation and safety objectives while limiting environmental and community impacts. County staff and several commissioners suggested specific elements for study, including intersection improvements, transit improvements, traffic signal prioritization, traffic demand management, lower posted speeds (a suggested range of 35–45 mph), and wildlife crossings.
Why it matters
County staff and the board said the corridor proposal could affect sensitive natural resources and community features. The letter highlights 4(f) concerns (the federal provision protecting publicly owned parks, recreation lands and certain wildlife areas) and seeks clearer cost allocation for right‑of‑way acquisition and construction. The board also asked WYDOT to produce phased project exhibits and to coordinate with local groups such as the Indian Springs Ranch Homeowners Association and Teton Science School on intersection design options.
Board action and edits
County engineer Amy Ramage and planning staff briefed the board on existing analyses and options. Commissioners proposed edits during the meeting to strengthen the request for a phased alternative and to add clarity on speed and phasing. Commissioner Probst offered extended scoping language urging WYDOT to analyze at least one phased alternative that would start with safety work at key intersections (for example Coyote Canyon and Indian Springs), then evaluate subsequent phases such as intersection work, transit and traffic demand management, and wildlife crossings; Commissioners suggested adding language explicitly calling out lower speed limits in the 35–45 mph range as one element to study. The board voted to approve the outgoing letter as amended. Chair Newcomb and staff said small typographical corrections may be made before final signing.
Speakers (selected)
- Amy Ramage — County Engineer, Teton County - Keith Newcomb — Chair, Teton County Board of County Commissioners - Commissioner Probst — Teton County Board of County Commissioners - Commissioner Gardner — Teton County Board of County Commissioners - Representatives from WYDOT were not present; the letter is addressed to WYDOT.
Authorities
- type: other; name/description: "NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and related 4(f) considerations"; referenced_by: ["y22_pre_nepa_letter"]
Actions
- kind: other identifiers: {agenda_item_id: "item_15_y22_letter"} motion: "Approve outgoing letter to WYDOT regarding Highway 22 Level 1 and Level 2 pre‑NEPA screening, as amended during the July 1 meeting." mover: "Commissioner MacKerr" second: "Commissioner Carman" vote_record: [] tally: {yes:5, no:0, abstain:0, absent:0, recused:0} legal_threshold: {met:true, notes:"Majority approval of outgoing correspondence"} outcome: "approved" notes: "Approved unanimously; staff to make typographical edits prior to signing."
Provenance
- transcript_segments: [{"block_id":"block_4180.16","local_start":0,"local_end":82,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you for our staff for working hard on this yesterday afternoon or overnight and getting it to us in a timely fashion.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_5559.42","local_start":0,"local_end":128,"evidence_excerpt":"Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the outgoing letter to YDOT, related to 22 Corridor as amended in this morning's meeting.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]
Searchable tags: ["Wyoming 22","YDOT","NEPA","EIS","4(f)","right of way","phased implementation"]
