SWEETWATER COUNTY – The debate about where Wyoming should allow companies to drill has been ongoing for many years. During his report at the Sweetwater County Commission meeting, Chairman Wally Johnson voiced concerns about Pine Mountain.
Being in the industrial field for so long, Johnson said he has been part of many discussions about the importance of reclamation of sites. With this, he voiced his displeasure with an area on Pine Mountain.
Johnson said there is a site on Pine Mountain that appears to be an abandoned well site that is gathering a lot of trash and is an eye sore. The Bureau of Land Management told Johnson there are no abandoned well sites on Pine Mountain, and all the drill sites were still producing.
“I know damn well there is,” Johnson said.
Commission Reid West explained as they were hunting this year, they saw the site in question and told Johnson it is still producing.
During public comment, Don Hartley told Johnson the well site West is talking about which is near an old house foundation is operational. He said he knew the spot well because he currently lives in the house that was formerly on the site.
However, Hartley said there is another site further down which has been plugged and left. He said there is also a gravel pit that has been abandoned in the vicinity as well. Johnson clarified Hartley’s comments about an abandoned site.
“There are two sites and could be as many as four,” Hartley said.
Johnson again stressed something has to be done about this site. He exclaimed it is a shame to see all the trash that has been left there, and it is an eyesore that needs to be fixed.
Sewer issue
Another issue brought up in his report involved a sewer issue in Reliance. Johnson said a has been working with a concerned resident about a sewer issue in Reliance. The concern involved the lagoons. Johnson informed the board he had talked to the resident. The issue will be eliminated once the sewage pipeline reaches Reliance. Once that happens they will be able to hook into the city of Rock Springs, and there will be no need for the lagoons.
Fire Warden
The Commission has been working with County Public Works Director John Radosevich as they have been going through applications received for the Sweetwater County Fire Warden position and have started setting up interviews.
Johnson said he thought the city of Rock Springs made an excellent decision appointing Jim Wamsley as the new fire chief. He said it would be interesting to see what Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 will do to fill that vacancy.
