Public Lands Initiative goes to county vote Tuesday

Teton County, Wyoming Commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday on the proposed Wyoming Public Lands Initiative. They will decide whether to forward the proposal to the Wyoming County Commissioners Association and be packaged with other recommendations to Congress.

The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is endorsing the package. The Alliance says the plan would add 173,000 acres to the Wilderness Preservation System, including portions of the Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area and Mt. Liedy.

The proposal would also prohibit mineral development and commercial logging on National Forest land in Teton County, and protect 154,000 acres as Jackson Hole Conservation areas. At the same time, the compromise would allow for continued motorized and mechanized use on nearly 400,000 acres of public land in Teton County and leave the Palisades as a Wilderness Study Area.

You can see the details here.

The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday at the County Commissioners Chambers at 200 S. Willow St. in Jackson.