# Sweetwater County Supports Forest Service Rule Changes

Sweetwater County officials have publicly endorsed the U.S. Forest Service and USDA's proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule along with revisions to Forest Service travel management regulations. This support emphasizes local control over federal land use decisions, improved forest health management, and maintaining public land access within the county's Federal Lands and Resources Plan. These regulatory changes could influence future federal land management practices, wildfire mitigation strategies, and access policies in Wyoming, potentially affecting procurement priorities related to forest management, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental services.

- Procurement professionals should note potential shifts in federal land management contracts favoring localized, place-based decision-making involving state, tribal, and local stakeholders.
- Contractors specializing in forest health, wildfire management, and travel infrastructure may find emerging opportunities aligned with revised regulations.
- Agencies and vendors should prepare for increased collaboration with local governments like Sweetwater County to align project scopes with community-driven land use priorities.
- This development signals a possible increase in demand for services that support sustainable forest management and public access improvements in Wyoming and similar regions.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Environment
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners

### Key Quotes
> What we9re trying to say here is we want local control here in Sweetwater County and not at the national level, which is what the roadless rule does.
> — Eric Bingham, County Land Use Director

> People in Washington, D.C. have no idea what9s going on here and will never set foot in these forests, so they have no clue what a healthy forest is or how we maintain it.
> — Taylor Jones, Commissioner

> The County strongly supports the proposal9s emphasis on place-based decisionmaking informed by State, Tribal, and local communities.
> — Mary Thoman, Commissioner

### Sources
- [Sweetwater County backs proposed changes to federal forest land management | News | wyomingnews.com](https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/sweetwater-county-backs-proposed-changes-to-federal-forest-land-management/article_a809574d-8959-4825-b67f-80ab8b70eefb.html) - WyomingNews.com