Hikers tour a section of state land at the base of Casper Mountain in June 2024. (Dustin Bleizeffer/WyoFile)
Share this:

The developer of a controversial gravel pit at the base of Casper Mountain wants a judge to review the state’s recent decision to deny several lease renewals.

Casper-based Prism Logistics filed a petition for judicial review Monday in the 7th District Court in Natrona County, claiming the state’s denial was “contrary to law” because the company had met conditions qualifying for an extension, according to the filing.

Pointing to statute regarding leases and lease extensions on state-owned lands — 36-6-101 sections (b), (m) and (n) — Prism contends the state “shall” grant an extension if any one of four criteria are met. “We believe that we clearly complied with two of the four,” Prism Manager Kyle True told WyoFile on Tuesday. “So we’re asking a judge if we’re reading the law correctly.”

How we got here

Kyle True, manager of Prism Logistics, pictured April 4, 2024. (Dustin Bleizeffer/WyoFile)

The Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners in 2023 granted eight exploration leases to Prism to potentially mine gravel on several state-owned “school trust sections” at the base of Casper Mountain on the town’s west side. Neither the county nor nearby residents in the Coates Road area were notified, and neighbors were aghast to learn about the leases after inquiring about test-digging in the area early last year.

The board, composed of Gov. Mark Gordon, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Treasurer Curt Meier and Auditor Kristi Racines, unanimously approved the lease applications via a consent agenda (without direct review or discussion).

It set off a firestorm of opposition, prompting county officials to install heavy truck limitations and rezone the area to forbid commercial mining, as well as a political storm on the state lands board.

Six of Prism’s eight leases came up for renewal in June. Only Meier opposed a motion to deny renewing the six leases, and Gordon declined to vote. Racines, who brought the motion, said Prism did not move forward in adequate time with state licensing and permits.

The other two leases come up for renewal in October.

Meantime, a judge has allowed Prism to continue to pursue its case against the Natrona County Board of Commissioners challenging whether the county can impose zoning regulations that prohibit state-sanctioned uses on school trust lands.

Asked whether Prism sees a path forward to eventually mine gravel in the area, True said “yes.” Although True initiated several public and private conversations with opponents and nearby residents, those overtures have not been returned lately, he said.

Dustin Bleizeffer covers energy and climate at WyoFile. He has worked as a coal miner, an oilfield mechanic, and for 26 years as a statewide reporter and editor primarily covering the energy industry in...

Join the Conversation

11 Comments

WyoFile's goal is to provide readers with information and ideas that foster constructive conversations about the issues and opportunities our communities face. One small piece of how we do that is by offering a space below each story for readers to share perspectives, experiences and insights. For this to work, we need your help.

What we're looking for: 

  • Your real name — first and last. 
  • Direct responses to the article. Tell us how your experience relates to the story.
  • The truth. Share factual information that adds context to the reporting.
  • Thoughtful answers to questions raised by the reporting or other commenters.
  • Tips that could advance our reporting on the topic.
  • No more than three comments per story, including replies. 

What we block from our comments section, when we see it:

  • Pseudonyms. WyoFile stands behind everything we publish, and we expect commenters to do the same by using their real name.
  • Comments that are not directly relevant to the article. 
  • Demonstrably false claims, what-about-isms, references to debunked lines of rhetoric, professional political talking points or links to sites trafficking in misinformation.
  • Personal attacks, profanity, discriminatory language or threats.
  • Arguments with other commenters.

Other important things to know: 

  • Appearing in WyoFile’s comments section is a privilege, not a right or entitlement. 
  • We’re a small team and our first priority is reporting. Depending on what’s going on, comments may be moderated 24 to 48 hours from when they’re submitted — or even later. If you comment in the evening or on the weekend, please be patient. We’ll get to it when we’re back in the office.
  • We’re not interested in managing squeaky wheels, and even if we wanted to, we don't have time to address every single commenter’s grievance. 
  • Try as we might, we will make mistakes. We’ll fail to catch aliases, mistakenly allow folks to exceed the comment limit and occasionally miss false statements. If that’s going to upset you, it’s probably best to just stick with our journalism and avoid the comments section.
  • We don’t mediate disputes between commenters. If you have concerns about another commenter, please don’t bring them to us.

The bottom line:

If you repeatedly push the boundaries, make unreasonable demands, get caught lying or generally cause trouble, we will stop approving your comments — maybe forever. Such moderation decisions are not negotiable or subject to explanation. If civil and constructive conversation is not your goal, then our comments section is not for you. 

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Reply

  2. When you consider the number of acres all over this state that support schools, and are available to lease and would have zero effects on a community compared to this, shows exactly how childish and egocentric Kyle True is. The matter should be dropped. Period.

    Reply

  3. It should be brought to everyone’s attention that this area of Casper Mountain was zoned for over 30 years as Mountain Residential-1 which specifically states no mining. Somehow the zoning changed to MR-2 which allows for mining in 2022, however there is nothing to document this change. This is the reason the zoning was changed back to MR-1 as it should be. If Mr. True believes the zoning should not have been reversed then how was it changed in 2022?

    Reply
    1. Reply

      1. The man owns the land, he has a valuable mineral. It is his right to mine it. You all would do the same. If this was ski resort going in. All would be thrilled.

        Reply

        1. Larry, read the article. He has leased the land from the State of Wyoming. He has no ownership basis.
          Now let’s look at the facts. The State Board of Land Commissioners granted Prism the 8 leases in 2023 unanimously on a consent agenda. Oops, big mistake. We’re sorry, we didn’t mean to do it. Somehow, the planning and zoning for that area got “mysteriously” changed in 2022. Oops, how can that happen without somebody knowing what was going on? I have no dog in the fight, but people, I got to tell you that something stinks here…..and it’s state politics and your own local politics, so follow the money.

          Reply

        2. What a maga thing to state!! “ I would if it was my property” ???? Really ?! I have more respect for my fellow landowners than this. Do you live near this area? Nothing like dust blowing all day long on that road, let alone the noise pollution this endeavor would create.
          Too many negatives…
          A ski resort??? You certainly are missing some BIG facts regarding ski resorts in Natrona County!

          Reply
        3. Reply
  4. Reply

  5. This Kyle True fellow must be craving for more humiliation. Listen, Mr. True, the people don’t want it, ok?!?!

    Reply
    1. Reply