CASPER, Wyo. — For the third straight meeting of the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners, opponents to a proposed gravel mine that would be located along Squaw Creek raised several concerns on Tuesday.
The planned gravel mine is being sought by Prism Logistics, a company owned by Natrona County resident Kyle True. The land along Squaw Creek that Prism hopes to use for the mine was leased to the company from the state.
Some Natrona County residents who spoke, such as Roberto Fars, stressed the importance of clean air and water. Fars and several others have voiced concerns that pollution from the gravel pit could have dire consequences for both the residents of the area and the wildlife.
“You can do all of these rules and regulations until you start hurting other people by possibly taking away their water and their air to breathe,” Fars said. “Those are the two main things we need to live as humans.”
Jason Knopp, a Casper resident with expertise as an environmental engineer, also spoke to broader issues the mine could pose to the waterways.
“If you go in and contour that, you’re going to change the way that water is going to move,” Knopp said. “And even if you don’t get all the way down to the shell layer, you are going to change the aquifer, you’re going to change the storage system and you’re going to change the way that water’s going to move.”
In a previous commissioners meeting, Knopp explained that the mountain’s waterways consist of four components: two storage systems, a conduit system and a distribution system.
Local resident Jim Gunderson said the gravel pit could dissuade people from visiting or potentially moving to the Casper area.
“When people look to travel as tourists or look to relocate, they’re looking for good paying jobs, recreational opportunities … and beautiful scenery,” he said. “When groups like the CNFR, NJCAA and others are looking for venues, they are looking at infrastructure and — for lack of a better term — curb appeal.”
In response to comments made about receiving expert opinion on the matters, attendee Pat Sullivan told commissioners that they’ve already heard from several experts, citing Knopp and others who have spoken in the recent meetings.
Former Commissioner Terry Wingerter spoke to the passion he’s seen displayed over the contentious issue.
“In my 28 years in elected office in the county and the City of Casper, I’ve never seen uproar like I’ve seen the last several weeks,” Wingerter said.
Commissioner Dave North told those in attendance that he greatly appreciates the concerned residents who have been voicing their reservations at the meetings, but clarified that the county’s role in approving or denying the proposed mine is still several months away. Before the matter goes to the commissioners, where they can decide whether or not to approve a conditional use permit, the proposed gravel pit first needs to get approval from the State Lands and Investments Board and a water and air quality study by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
North previously told Oil City News that the DEQ studies have proven to sometimes take upwards of eight months all on their own.
When or if the issue does finally reach the Board of Commissioners’ desk for a vote, the commissioners will consider a handful of factors. Approval criteria for a conditional use permit include:
- That there won’t be an overburdening of county services
- That there won’t be substantial traffic, parking or environmental problems
- That it won’t impair the use of adjacent properties or alter the character of the neighborhood
- That it won’t detrimentally affect the health, safety and wellness of the residents or nullify the intent of the plan or resolution
