Most people know that my home state holds my heart; what many may not know is that my soul can be found in the Wyoming Range.

My family's cabin is nestled in a "bowl" off-the-beaten-path in the Wyoming Range and I have spent time there every summer for my entire life. It has views of the Wind River Range, the Tetons and the Gros Ventre Mountains. When I was young, I spent weeks of my summer vacation there – playing and hiking in the woods that are part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, learning to speed a pickup down a dirt road without fishtailing, learning wildflowers, constellations and animal names, watching meteor showers and finding peace at a waterfall that I consider my very own. In the winter, it is even better – sledding, snow-shoeing, staring at the stars and reading in front of a roaring fire.

The solitude of the Wyoming Range is unlike any other.

Wyoming has always been pro-energy industry; a large portion of the state's economy is based on the success of oil and gas development and hard rock mineral extraction. That is why a headline caught my eye this weekend in the Jackson Hole News & Guide, "B-T sticks with no Wyo. Range leasing."

Reportedly, "Bridger-Teton National Forest decision makers have affirmed what they proposed this past spring: They do not intend to allow oil and gas leasing on nearly 62 miles of the Wyoming Range."

The full draft record of Forest Service's decision can be found here.

What was the "no leasing" decision based on?

A supplemental environmental impact statement, public and agency comments and several historic environmental analyses from 1990, 1991 and 1993 formed the basis of the decision. In addition, "[t]he 2016 environmental analysis involved three cooperating agencies: the BLM; the State of Wyoming; Governor's Office; and Sublette County, Wyoming."

The public weighed in too – "[m]ore than 62,000 comments on the draft supplemental environmental impact statement were received." You may not realize this, but that is more than 10% of the entire population of Wyoming.

What did the public comments say?

Public comments reportedly spoke to the "sense of place" in the Wyoming Range. The draft record of decision emphasizes this, that "[t]he backcountry nature of the area contributes strongly to the sense of place in the Wyoming Range."

"Comments from the citizens of Wyoming and local communities, even those that make their living directly or indirectly from the energy sector, provided significant rationale and affirmation of the analysis to justify choosing alternative 1 [no oil and gas leasing]."

The public comments addressed the significance of recreational experiences including ranching, big game hunting, guiding, camping, fishing, horseback riding and hiking into remote areas. The draft record of decision also noted the importance of the workforce having a place to escape and recharge in order to come back to the work week rejuvenated.

Why is this important?

Wyoming is truly balancing its interests. It is a state that promotes both energy development and recreational experiences in the great outdoors. There is plenty of room for both in Wyoming.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.