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BioWest presents draft resource management plan; Emery County forms small steering committee and budgets consultant work
Summary
BioWest staff described a resource management plan to be integrated into Emery County's general plan, emphasizing agency coordination and high‑level policies. The commission appointed members to a small steering committee, approved funding timing, and requested searchable plan documents.
Nicole, a BioWest representative working on Emery County's general plan, presented the proposed resource management plan element during the March 2025 Planning Commission meeting and described how the document will be used to guide county engagement with federal and state land managers.
Why it matters: Emery County is about 92% public lands (BLM, U.S. Forest Service and state trust lands). Commissioners and BioWest staff said a clear county resource plan can influence federal project siting and federal‑state consistency reviews (for example, solar development or monument designations) and help the county be heard in consultations.
Presentation highlights: Nicole said the resource management plan will usually be published as an element of the general plan rather than a standalone document and that BioWest has funding and professional staff to prepare it. She described the plan as deliberately high level—“the general plan, not the specific plan”—so it can inform county policy without unduly constraining compliance with federal or state law. BioWest staff and commissioners discussed including stakeholders such as the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, public lands councils, water and grazing interests, tribal representatives and the general public in future open meetings scheduled before the end of the year.
Steering committee and funding: Commissioners voted to form a small steering committee (two to nine people discussed) to help guide early decisions. The commission appointed Commissioner Bruce Wilson to the steering committee and voted to support BioWest staff member Nicole’s participation; both motions passed by unanimous voice vote. Commissioners and staff said the county will identify a budget line to pay consultant invoices and that BioWest accepted the county’s approach; staff noted the county must place funds by June 30 for the fiscal allocation.
Documents and technical needs: Commissioners requested the general plan and ordinances be made searchable online and to have change tracking (line‑through edits) visible for draft revisions. County staff said Natalie had contacted IT and that new IT staff member Jack Gardner will assist with searchable documents.
Direct quotes: Nicole (BioWest) said, “These plans... become very important in the conversations that we had back and forth,” describing county plans’ role in negotiating with federal agencies. Zoning Administrator Jim Jennings summarized the regulatory sequence: “That would come in to our... ordinances to be specific,” explaining that ordinances implement high‑level plan policy.
Next steps: BioWest will continue plan drafting, staff will assemble a steering committee and secure the budget line for consultant work, IT will work on a searchable version of plan documents, and the commission will receive monthly updates as the process proceeds.
