Page 16 Pinedale Roundup February 2, 2018

BLM and Forest Service

announce 2018 grazing fees
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal graz-
ing fee for 2018 will be $1.41 per animal unit
month for public lands administered by the
Bureau of Land Management and $1.41 per
head month for lands managed by the United
States Department of Agriculture Forest Ser-
vice.  The 2017 public land grazing fee was
$1.87.
An AUM or HM – treated as equivalent
measures for fee purposes – is the use of pub-
lic lands by one cow and her calf, one horse,
or five sheep or goats for a month. The newly
calculated grazing fee was determined by a
congressional formula and takes effect March
1, 2018. The fee will apply to nearly 18,000
grazing permits and leases administered by the
BLM and nearly 6,500 permits administered
by the Forest Service.
The formula used for calculating the graz-
ing fee was established by Congress in the
1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act
and has remained in use under a 1986 presi-
dential Executive Order.  Under that order, the
grazing fee cannot fall below $1.35 per AUM/
HM, and any increase or decrease cannot ex-
ceed 25 percent of the previous year’s level.
per AUM/HM for livestock grazing on public
lands in Western states. The figure is then cal-
culated according to three factors – current pri-
vate grazing land lease rates, beef cattle prices,
and the cost of livestock production.  In effect,
the fee rises, falls or stays the same based on
market conditions.
The BLM and Forest Service are commit-
ted to strong relationships with the ranching
community and work closely with permittees
to ensure public rangelands remain healthy,
productive working landscapes.  Fifty percent
of the collected grazing fees deposited into
the U.S. Treasury are returned to the Range
Betterment Fund for on-the-ground range im-
provement projects. Portions of collected fees
are also returned to the states for use in coun-
ties where the fees were generated.
The grazing fee applies in 16 western states
on public lands administered by the BLM and
the Forest Service.  The states are Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mon-
tana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota,
Utah, Washington and Wyoming.  Permit
holders and lessees may contact their local FILE PHOTO

The annually determined grazing fee is BLM or Forest Service office for additional The federal grazing fees have been set for 2018 for those who use Bu-
established using a 1966 base value of $1.23 information. n reau of Land Management or United States Forest Service lands.

Public comment open on proposed school finance rules

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Depart-
ment of Education seeks public comment on
changes to the School Finance rules, which
govern the administration of the Wyoming
education block grant model and the repeal of
Chapter 25: Reimbursable Expenses Pursuant
to School District Organization and Chapter
33 Wyoming Bridges Summer School and
Extended Day Grant Program.
These rules are being revised following the
passage of House Bill 236 and Senate File 35
during the 2017 legislative session. The revi-
sions include the repeal of Chapter 33 Rules
and the incorporation of Chapter 25 into Chap-
ter 8, a modification to the manner in which
districts calculate part-time membership for
funding purposes, and a new methodology
for computing average daily membership for
students participating in virtual education pro-
grams. A full rationale for the revisions can be
found in the Statement of Reasons.
Public comment on the proposed rules is
open through March 2, 2018, and may be
mailed to Wyoming Department of Educa-
tion, Attn:Jed Cicarelli, 2300 Capitol Avenue,
Hathaway Building 2nd Floor, Cheyenne,
Wyo., 82002.
Public comments may also be submit-
ted online. All comments will be recorded,
filed, and posted on the  Secretary of State
website  as part of the rules promulgation
process. n

Wyo Game and Fish

Digital Mammograms wants your opinion
at the Marbleton-Big Piney Clinic PINEDALE – All people who are inter-
ested in the future of Wyoming’s wildlife
are invited to the public input meetings. The
meetings are one of the ways Game and Fish
Now scheduling is gathering input the other ongoing effort is
an online forum accessible at wgfd.wyo.gov.
appointments There will also be a telephone survey of resi-
dents and nonresidents.
Call 307-739-7531 All of the public input will shape a first-
of-its-kind strategic plan that will be used by
Game and Fish for years. “This is your chance
to drive the future of Wyoming’s wildlife,”
said Scott Talbott, director of the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department. “We want to offer
as many opportunities to be involved so we
hope you will attend a meeting or comment
online.”
This service provided by St. John’s Medical Center.
 Game and Fish will build the strategic plan
between March and June of 2018. Game and
To attend:
When: Thursday, Feb. 8
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Hampton Inn and Suites,
Wind River Range Room,
55 Bloomfield Ave., Pinedale
Other locations: wgfd.wyo.gov.
Fish has partnered with Responsive Man-
agement, a survey research firm specializing
in capturing and analyzing public opinions
toward natural resources and outdoor recre-
ation, and The Cooperation Company, a firm
specializing in strategic and operational plan-
ning for this significant project.
 “You can make a difference and help set
the course for wildlife in Wyoming by partici-
pating,” said Talbott. n