A group of Natrona County residents and the Casper Mountain Preservation Alliance filed a lawsuit on Friday, accusing Wyoming’s top elected officials of violating the state constitution by approving gravel mine exploration leases near their homes without adequate public notice, Wyo File reports.
The lawsuit, filed in Natrona County District Court, seeks to invalidate eight leases approved last year by the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners. The board, which includes Governor Mark Gordon and other state officials, is responsible for managing state trust lands to generate revenue for public schools.
The plaintiffs claim that the leases, which cover over 3,000 acres of state trust land near Casper Mountain, were approved without notifying residents or providing an opportunity for public input. The leases were added to a consent agenda and unanimously approved without discussion, according to the lawsuit.
“Leases were entered into by the Board without first providing reasonable and meaningful notice or opportunity to be heard by Plaintiffs or anyone else in the general public,” the complaint states.
The controversy gained attention earlier this year when a local resident discovered exploratory digging near his home, prompting neighbors to form the Casper Mountain Preservation Alliance. The group has since gathered more than 18,000 signatures opposing the gravel mining project.
Opponents of the proposed gravel mine cite potential environmental and health impacts, including noise, truck traffic, and the risk of groundwater contamination. Many households in the area rely on shallow wells for their water supply, and residents worry that mining operations could disrupt the fragile water system.
“For decades, the area has been zoned to control housing densities due to the fragile, relatively shallow water source,” the alliance said in a statement.
In September, the Natrona County Commission voted to ban commercial mining in certain residential areas, including the lands in question. Prism Logistics, the company behind the leases, filed a lawsuit in response, challenging the county’s authority to regulate activities on state trust lands.
Prism Logistics has held public meetings and proposed measures to address residents’ concerns, including limiting operations to daytime hours, relocating rock-crushing activities, and potentially funding alternative water sources if wells are impacted.
Despite these efforts, opposition remains strong. The broader legal dispute over whether counties can impose zoning or safety regulations on state trust lands is now before the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Wyoming’s state trust lands, established at statehood in 1890, are managed to generate revenue for public education. While grazing leases are common, industrial activities such as mining and drilling are also permitted.
