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Commission hears update on Sublette antelope migration corridor; county representative leans toward designation
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Summary
Commissioner Slaughter briefed the board on the state-led Sublette antelope migration corridor process, the biological risk assessment, and possible implications for project review. He said he is leaning toward recommending designation while commissioners raised wording and implementation concerns.
Commissioner Rob Slaughter updated the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners on April 21 about the Sublette antelope migration corridor working group and the process of potential designation under Governor''s Executive Order 2020-1.
Slaughter summarized the multi-step process: Game and Fish identifies corridors using GPS collar data, prepares a biological risk assessment, the Game and Fish Commission takes public comment and can recommend designation to the governor, who then appoints a local working group to refine recommendations. "Identification does not change how land is managed," Slaughter said, emphasizing that designation would not prohibit development but would trigger more coordinated state review and encourage avoidance, minimization and mitigation.
He told the commission the working group has met three times and that public comments to date have been overwhelmingly in favor of designation. Slaughter noted Sweetwater County contains only one major bottleneck in the corridor (the Black's Fork area around an existing solar farm) and that roughly 2,047 of 2,941 acres in county-mapped corridor segments are private, which the governor''s order excludes from direct regulation.
Commissioners voiced support for the working-group process but cautioned about language that could be used to impose unintended restrictions through other planning processes. Commissioner Toman warned against crafting wording that federal agencies might use to impose added constraints. Commissioner Richards said the scientific data appears robust and the designation tool could help Game and Fish engage earlier in siting conversations.
Slaughter said the working group will begin drafting recommendations at its May meeting and he will report back to the county commission. No formal county action was taken at the April 21 meeting.
What to watch next: the working group's forthcoming recommendations to the governor and any county-requested wording or monitoring proposals that aim to preserve local clarity on land-use outcomes.
