CASPER—A proposed gravel mine will disturb a tranquil — albeit breezy — rural community at the base of picturesque Casper Mountain just west of town, according to opponents of the proposed development.
The prospect of a 24-hour industrial operation will not only kick up choking amounts of dust, it will hammer roads, pierce the night sky with lights and generate a lot of noise, worried residents say. Worse, the mining activity could disturb local hydrology where thousands of residents depend on shallow water wells for domestic and livestock use, they claim.
The compounding impacts from such an operation will completely alter the quality of life for neighbors, and “It will kill us, basically,” Esther Anderson, who has lived in the area for 50 years, told Natrona County commissioners.
Anderson was among more than 200 people who packed the commissions’ chamber Tuesday evening to plead with local officials to either block the proposal — the preferred outcome, according to most residents who spoke — or put major restrictions on any future mining activity in the area. The opponents, who said they only learned about the potential development in mid-February, quickly organized a Facebook group with more than 1,600 followers, and handed commissioners a petition with more than 1,700 signatures asking them to block the project.
“I would be looking down, hearing a crusher all night long, seeing dust go on down Squaw Creek and the potential they could eradicate a whole creek,” Gregg Werger, who lives at the south end of Coates Road, told WyoFile in the hallway before the commission meeting began. “I don’t want them there. They shouldn’t be there,” Werger said.
The five-member commission assured residents that while they don’t want to stand in the way of any mining activity, and don’t have permitting authority over such industrial developments, they will “lobby” on their behalf to try to minimize any potential impacts and, in particular, to ensure there are notification and public comment opportunities for similar developments in the future that might present a burden to neighborhoods in the county.
Requests for more oversight and opportunities for input from neighbors of the proposed mine site made it all the way to Cheyenne, where lawmakers were considering much the opposite in a bill to ease regulations on small mining operations.
More or less regulation?
Stemming from the Legislature’s Regulatory Reduction Task Force discussions in 2023, the Wyoming Contractors Association joined forces with the Wyoming Mining Association and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to propose expanding exemptions already bestowed to such gravel, sand and other so-called Limited Mining Operations.
The Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee successfully introduced Senate File 44 – Limited mining operations-amendments in February, and the measure was sailing through committees — despite opposition from conservation groups — until lawmakers began hearing from concerned residents on Casper Mountain.
Wyoming DEQ’s Limited Mining Operations program is more of an exemption category than a set of regulatory standards for mining operations that are 15 acres or less in size. The classification is typically a rubber stamp approval process for small mining operations such as gravel and sand pits. It doesn’t apply to coal mines or operations that produce radioactive materials.
Specific to the concerns of Casper Mountain residents, the classification only requires the mine operator to notify nearby property owners and does not include a formal public comment process.
Senate File 44, in the spirit of doing away with or streamlining regulations, would expand the state’s Limited Mining Operations classification to include “any noncoal” mining operation of 15 acres or less, which could potentially apply to gold, zinc, lithium, copper or, potentially, rare earth elements mining operations.
“We have identified significant public interest in this area.”
Kyle True, Prism Logistics
Wyoming’s Limited Mining Operations classification has long been a sore point for local conservation groups, including the Sheridan-based landowner advocacy group Powder River Basin Resource Council. Rather than expanding what qualifies under the state’s Limited Mining Operations classification, lawmakers should be adding statutes to require more environmental and human health siting parameters, as well as public participation opportunities, according to PRBRC.
“And there’s federal subsidies related to these new kinds of mines that are going to be putting pressure on some communities,” Resource Council attorney Shannon Anderson told WyoFile.
More legislative attention to come
A joint conference committee tasked with hammering out differences between the House and Senate versions of SF 44, made some concessions on Wednesday, including a 500-foot buffer zone from homes as opposed to the Senate’s wishes for 1,000 feet (the House wanted 300 feet).
Rep. Steve Harshman (R-Casper), who serves on the committee and toured the Casper Mountain community over the weekend, pressed for concessions such as an additional review by the Office of State Lands and Investments and a public comment period.
The committee, however, promised instead to revisit those and several other considerations in the interim and voted unanimously to move the bill forward.
Meantime, Kyle True, who manages the company looking to mine gravel on Casper Mountain, said there is no formal proposal before the state or county, despite initial tests that indicate a “significant” gravel resource that is in great demand. Moreover, he’s been visiting with neighbors in the area, he said, and encourages a formal process that includes notification and a series of disclosures with the public, including a public comment and response opportunity.
“We have identified significant public interest in this area,” True told Natrona County commissioners Tuesday evening amid the large crowd that showed up to oppose his company’s proposed operation. “We would recommend that there be significant public comment — not one comment period, but … at least three review sessions where we could propose an operation and lay out as much detail as we can, then let the public digest that, give it consideration, and come back with every concern and question we can [address].”
My wife and I live in the Skyline Ranch area. we are trying to sell our home and have had persons back out because of this purposed gravel pit. This Gravel pit will destroy property value along with the quality of life we love here in this area and there is a reason we do not live in town. so please stop this proposal. This Kyle True kat does not care about us, only a profit and a big fat bonus for getting the gravel pit started up.
My grandchild would b exposed during school along w all the noise
It would destroy the mt bad idea
I am a very concerned Wyoming citizen about the proposed gravel pit development by Prism Logistics, managed by Kyle True to be placed at the Public recreational school section by Coates Road and Squaw Creek in Casper, WY. I have lived at the end of Squaw Creek Rd for the last 38 years. It is where I live, work, and raise my family . It is not just a piece of ground; it is my home and sanctuary! I love my home and I will personally fight this gravel pit development by Prism Logistics, with every fiber of my being and everything I have.
I have reached out to Kyle True and had a long conversation with him and when I asked him what he would do and how he would feel if someone was to put a gravel pit behind his home? He told me I am not going to answer that question. That right there told me what I needed to know. And the Wyoming government needs to know there will be 100’s of enraged Wyoming residents fighting this proposed gravel pit development by Prism Logistics. I pray you will stop this proposed gravel pit development. Please put yourself in our position and ask yourself what would I do if someone were to put a gravel pit behind my own home. Can you imagine the upheaval and distress of having such an operation looming over your home. I am sure you would feel the same way we do. I questioned Kyle about alternatives, wondering why he could not source gravel from elsewhere. He told me it was about saving cost and trucking expense because the only two gravel pits he can get gravel from are in Alcova and Glenrock, about 30 miles away and this location would reduce his transportation costs.
This is a decision based purely on making larger profits, being driven by money and greed, not the effects it will have on the surrounding environment, wildlife and health concerns of the people who live in the area. Please do the right thing for our community and vote no for this proposed gravel pit development project on Coates Rd. This decision to place a gravel pit here reeks of greed, prioritizing financial gain over the well-being of neighbors and the surrounding environment.
Respectfully, Chris Navarro
The Schools are funded by State Trust Land if we maximize revenue School district funding will suffer.
I live near the end of Squaw Creek Road. Downstream and down-wind from the proposed site. Winds blow directly over that land to my house. Kyle True has never asked to come visit with me or anyone else that I have spoken to on Squaw Creek or Coates Road, Skyline Ranches, Wolf Creek or Webb Creek. Don’t let the name fool you- this mine could extend from west of Garden Creek to Webb Creek. Look at the maps of his leases. I would like to show him how close we live and to imagine my children playing outside, downwind from the mine. I wonder if he would be ok with his children or grandchildren playing in such an area? He speaks of transparency but he has been at this for over 2 years, sneaking under the radar or citizens he knew would be concerned. Never once at the meeting did he mention concern for the health or safety of local residents. Or the water rights that should supersede any mining activity. Yes, I understand that the state has an obligation to make money off this land. But at what expense? The health of its citizens? Of the children this land is supposed to fund education for? The expense of hundreds of water rights? The expense of an outdoor area where families of ALL income levels can enjoy? That’s like telling me you are going to do some cancer- causing medical treatment on me to fund cancer research. It doesn’t make sense. And if the elected officials can’t see that then I’ve lost all hope in my home state. I guess we should all just sit inside and stare at screens because another public recreation site has been taken away by greed.
The school section is such a special place to SO many of us – it’s my outdoor home away from home. Don’t take our homes away from us.
When I heard Kyle True say. The interested public could “digest” the plans for the proposed gravel pit. I felt that comment was very arrogant sounding. When I think of that term in relation to this. This is not something that Casper wants to inhale or consume or digest. It is a scar on our beautiful mountain, on our air on our roads, and on our water. This needs to be stopped before it gets started.
This is terrifying to myself and hundreds of other residents in the proximity poised to lose our water, have our clean air poisoned and our tranquil way of life completely destroyed! There’s plenty of other open spaces to look into, sorry if the travel costs are a little more! What about the cost to our health?
Kyle True’s proposal to use the State lands at the end of Coates as a gravel pit because he can make more money that way is despicable. That area is one of the gems remaining to all local residents and he will damage more than just the peace and water of those who live nearby.
I urge you to visit that place on bike, horseback or afoot, it is wonderful with a small stream, lots of native trees and shrubs and uniquely close and open for Casper folks.
Many of us go there for dog walking on leash, watching birds, botanizing, etc. It is the best place I know to see the foothills plant community of hawthorns, blue grama + other native grass, early primrose and lots more. There are always deer and often foxes and badgers.
These are “school sections” and many of us who have taught biology use it as a great outdoor classroom. Students have told me they still visit years later.
It is amenities like this that make Casper attractive—another gravel pit? Not so much.
Reminds me of when the McMurrys tried the same for Bessemer Mountain.
This is a good example of how our “Reps” try to circumvent the public. They want to run over the top of the citizen, and goose step to developers. They wouldn’t allow this to happen to their home, would they. As I understand it, True was asked to put the mine next to his house, which apparently is in proximity to this area. You can guess what he said about that. Also, He’s only for transparency now. It sounds like equipment showed up at the site and nobody knew why. Be ready for large trucks with jake brakes to tear up your road, and endanger your kids.
Kyle True, my husband and I have not been approached by anyone in your camp. We do recognize that gravel is a needed resource but there are other areas that it can be found without significantly affecting the lives of this neighborhood. It will affect water our lifeblood, our health and the destruction of a very special area. My great great grandchildren will most likely never see this treasure restored. I live 50’ from the road and cannot imagine haul trucks 24 hours per day.