Jennifer Doering

The meeting addressed procedural matters, including the confirmation of quorum and the approval of minutes from the December 4, 2025, and January 8, 2026 meetings. A significant portion of the meeting involved an appeal by Hansen regarding the director's conditional award of grazing and agricultural lease number 1-8906 to the Hess family. Due to newly raised legal questions concerning Wyoming statute 163-113b, the board required all involved parties (OSLI, Hansen, and the Hess family) to submit legal briefing, with oral arguments postponed until the April meeting. The board also reviewed and approved a consent list containing multiple action items (C1, E1 through E11, F1 through F5, G1, G2, G4 through G10, H1, H3, and I2). Additionally, the State Forester provided an update covering the 2025 wildfire summary, noting above-average fire activity and $20 million in estimated state suppression costs. The update also detailed the expanded use of fire aviation resources, the activities of the smoke buster inmate hand crew, and the growth of the Good Neighbor Authority program, including timber sales figures for state trust lands.

The Special Meeting convened to consider proposed rule changes initiating a rulemaking process for amendments to chapters four and five of the board's rules concerning mineral leases that require a special use lease for associated well pads. The goal of the proposed changes is to reduce the time and uncertainty involved in negotiating surface impact payments and rates for offset well pads, which has reportedly discouraged operators from developing state lands. The proposed rule changes, developed in consultation with industry groups like the Petroleum Association of Wyoming and the Wyoming Stock Growers, aim to create consistency and predictability by setting an annually approved rate based on market data. The discussion emphasized that while the process streamlines the surface impact payment schedule, existing mechanisms for surface lessees to comment on applications and negotiate specific impacts (like dust control or speed limits) remain in place. Several stakeholders provided input regarding the scope of surface impacts covered and the process for determining market rates.

The meeting included a state forestry update, which covered wildfire incidents, suppression costs, and the use of helicopters and air tankers. The board also discussed timber planning and the Good Neighbor Authority program. Additionally, the board addressed surface lease matters, specifically special use lease applications for offset well pads and access roads, focusing on potential impacts to existing grazing and agricultural leases.

The special meeting of the State Loan and Investment Board addressed several key issues. The board discussed and approved a request from the Jamestown Rio Vista Water and Sewer District to change the recommended principal forgiveness for their loan. Additionally, they considered and approved an increase in funding for the City of Gillette's Madison water transmission main pipeline repair. The board also discussed a change in the interest rate and increased recommended principal forgiveness for the Cottonwood Acres Improvement and Service District. Finally, the board considered waiving a deadline for the Fremont County Association of Governments regarding an application, ultimately voting to waive the deadline after hearing from a representative of the association.

The meeting addressed the emergency mineral royalty grant application of the Larmy County Fire Authority. The board discussed the request for $250,000 in emergency funding to rebuild fire station number 74, which was destroyed by a fire in January 2025. Issues regarding setbacks, septic systems, well locations, and foundation compliance with current planning regulations were discussed. The board approved $180,000 in emergency MRG funding to the Laramie County Fire Authority for the purpose of rebuilding fire station number 74.