POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL
934 N MAIN STREET, SHERIDAN, WY 82801 www.powderriverbasin.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: - THE PRESERVATION AND ENRICHMENT OF WYOMING'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND RURAL LIFESTYLE. - THE CONSERVATION OF WYOMING'S UNIQUE LAND, MINERAL, WATER, AND CLEAN AIR RESOURCES CONSISTENT WITH RESPONSIBLE USE OF THOSE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN THE LIVELIHOOD OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. - THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WYOMING'S CITIZENS TO RAISE A COHERENT VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE.

POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL'S (POWDER RIVER) MISSION STATEMENT REMAINS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR OUR WORK: "THE PRESERVATION AND ENRICHMENT OF WYOMING'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND RURAL LIFESTYLE. "THE CONSERVATION OF WYOMING'S UNIQUE LAND, MINERAL, WATER, AND CLEAN AIR RESOURCES CONSISTENT WITH RESPONSIBLE USE OF THOSE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN THE LIVELIHOOD OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. "THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WYOMING'S CITIZENS TO RAISE A COHERENT VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE. POWDER RIVER WAS FOUNDED IN 1973 BY RURAL LANDOWNERS OF NORTH EAST WYOMING WORKING TO PROTECT THEIR LAND, WATER AND AIR FROM THE RAVAGES OF COAL STRIP MINING, POWDER RIVER CURRENTLY HAS MEMBERS THROUGHOUT WYOMING AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES AND HAS SIX LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT WYOMING THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH POWDER RIVER. POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL IS THE ONLY GROUP IN WYOMING THAT ACTIVELY ADDRESSES BOTH AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION ISSUES. THE GROUP UNITES BOTH INDIVIDUALS WITH STRONG CONSERVATION CONVICTIONS AND AGRICULTURALISTS WITH A STRONG LAND STEWARDSHIP ETHIC AROUND A SHARED VISION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WYOMING'S QUALITY OF LIFE. ALSO, POWDER RIVER IS THE ONLY GROUP THAT ADDRESSES SPLIT ESTATE AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC LAND ISSUES. POWDER RIVER MEMBERS WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITORS AND EDITORIALS TO LOCAL AND STATE WIDE NEWSPAPERS AND INTERNET JOURNALS ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OUR ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO ADDRESS. POWDER RIVER PUBLISHES THE POWDER RIVER BREAKS ON A BIMONTHLY BASIS FROM JANUARY/ FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER/DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR. THIS 8 TO 16-PAGE NEWSLETTER CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE ISSUES AND PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY POWDER RIVER. IT IS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS AND IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE AND OTHER DESIGNATED DROP SITES. POWDER RIVER MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AT WWW.POWDERRIVERBASIN.ORG THAT INFORMS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON CONSERVATION ISSUES THAT POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL IS ADDRESSING. WE ALSO MAINTAIN A LIBRARY IN OUR OFFICE CONTAINING HISTORICAL AND CURRENT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO WATER, LAND, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL HAS TWO OFFICE LOCATIONS IN WYOMING. THE MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED IN SHERIDAN AND IN 2019 WE HAD STAFF LOCATED IN LARAMIE AND CONTRACT STAFF LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST WYOMING. POWDER RIVER'S WORK IS OVERSEEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL. BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED FROM AND BY THE POWDER RIVER MEMBERSHIP FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM. AS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, MEMBERS DECIDE THE DIRECTION AND FOCUS OF POWDER RIVER'S WORK. MEMBERS BRING RESOLUTIONS FOR A VOTE OF MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING THAT IS HELD IN THE AUTUMN OF EACH YEAR AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. EVERY YEAR A KEYNOTE SPEAKER OR PANL PROVIDES INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION ON SELECTED ISSUES AND IS OPEN TO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT NORMALLY RANGES FROM 100 TO 200 PEOPLE. IN 2019, OUR 47TH ANNUAL MEETING THEME WAS: WHEN COAL IS NO LONGER KING: A CONVERSATION ON WYOMING'S FUTURE. THE DISCUSSION FEATURED THREE PANELISTS: DENISE PARRISH - DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OF THE WYOMING OFFICE OF CONSUMER ADVOCATE; ROBIN COOLEY - DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES; AND ADELE MORRIS - SENIOR FELLOW FOR CLIMATE AND ENERGY ECONOMICS AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION. THE PANEL WAS MODERATED BY REPRESENTATIVE CATHY CONNOLLY, THE WYOMING MINORITY FLOOR LEADER IN THE WYOMING HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EVERY YEAR POWDER RIVER ALSO SPONSORS SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL STATE SCIENCE FAIR FOR SCIENCE PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION ON THE PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS OF WYOMING. THE YOUTH IN CONSERVATION AWARDS ARE A CASH AWARD TO SELECTED PARTICIPANTS IN THE WYOMING STATE SCIENCE FAIR WHOSE PROJECTS MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD. EACH YEAR JUDGES FROM POWDER RIVER SELECT THE BEST PROJECTS OUT OF THE MANY THEY VIEW AT THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR. THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR IS VISITED BY THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. THE YOUTH IN CONSERVATION AWARD WAS STARTED WITH FUNDS RECEIVED BY POWDER RIVER IN MEMORIAM OF BILL BARLOW ONE OF OUR FOUNDING MEMBERS. THESE AWARDS HONOR STUDENTS WHOSE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS STUDY WYOMING ECOSYSTEMS, CONSIDER IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OR OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, OR EXPLORE INNOVATIVE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES. THE WINNERS IN 2019 WERE: CHEYENNE SIXTH GRADER, SHELLY HOOBLER, FOR HER PROJECT ON RIVER EROSION, "MY SEDIMENTS EXACTLY, AND 11TH GRADER, MARKIE WHITNEY FROM NEWCASTLE FOR HER PROJECT ON INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF SOLAR PANELS, "SOLAR PANELS - TOO COOL." IN 2019, POWDER RIVER CONTINUED INCREASING ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS WHILE DEVELOPING STRONGER MARKETS FOR PRODUCERS. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR WAS GETTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) IMPLEMENTED AT THE DOWNTOWN SHERIDAN FARMERS' MARKET. WE ORGANIZED AND CONDUCTED SEVERAL LOCAL FOODS TRAININGS AND COORDINATED AND HOSTED A COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING IN SHERIDAN FOR THE RECENTLY REVIVED WYOMING FARM TO PLATE TASK FORCE. THE SHERIDAN FOOD FOREST CONTINUED TO GROW. THE POLLINATOR GARDEN WAS FINISHED AND USED TO HELP EDUCATE SCHOOL CHILDREN ABOUT FORAGING AND POLLINATORS. POWDER RIVER MOVED THE SEED LIBRARY TO THE SHERIDAN COUNTY LIBRARY TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO MORE CITIZENS. OUR MEMBERS WERE FEATURED IN A STORY-TELLING PROJECT ON HOMEGROWN STORIES TO SHOWCASE INDEPENDENT FARMERS AND RANCHERS. FINALLY, WE TOPPED OFF THE YEAR WITH OUR 14TH ANNUAL HARVEST CELEBRATION FEATURING LOCALLY RAISED BEEF AND LAMB AND A BOUNTY OF OTHER LOCAL FOODS. ON THE COAL MINING FRONT, POWDER RIVER SUCCEEDED IN PUSHING FORWARD A NEW SET OF RULES THAT ENSURES ADEQUATE BONDS FOR COAL MINE RECLAMATION AND LIMITS THE ABILITY OF COAL COMPANIES TO MAINTAIN RISKY SELF-BONDING. WE ALSO INCREASED THE TRANSPARENCY OF ANY COLLATERAL BONDING POSTED BY THE COAL COMPANIES. POWDER RIVER CONTINUES TO HOLD ALL OF THE COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE POWDER RIVER BASIN TO THE HIGH STANDARDS OF THE LAW TO ENSURE RECLAMATION IS FUNDED TO CLEAN UP OUR LANDS AND WATERS AFTER MINING. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK TO ASSIST LANDOWNERS PROTECTING THEIR PROPERTY AND THE TONGUE RIVER VALLEY FROM IMPACTS OF A PROPOSED COAL NEW COAL MINE. THE RESULT WAS A REVISED APPLICATION THAT REDUCES IMPACTS AND AVOIDS MINING IN HYDROLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS NEXT TO THE TONGUE RIVER, BETTER ADDRESSES SUBSIDENCE ISSUES AND PLACES NEW RESTRICTIONS ON BLASTING. WE CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE BROADER CONVERSATIONS AROUND COAL PLANT RETIREMENT AND THE NEED FOR SMART COMMUNITY AND WORKER TRANSITION PLANS, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHWEST WYOMING WHERE THE FIRST COAL PLANT RETIREMENTS WILL OCCUR. IN 2019, OUR WORK TO ENSURE RESPONSIBLE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT INCREASED DUE TO A BOOM IN OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT. OUR ORGANIZING AND EDUCATIONAL WORK FOCUSED ON IMPACTS TO SPLIT ESTATE LANDOWNERS AND ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS, REDUCING IMPACTS FROM OIL AND GAS AIR POLLUTION, ADDRESSING SAFETY ISSUES FROM OIL AND GAS WASTEWATER SPILLS AND DISCHARGES WHICH THREATEN OUR FRESHWATER, AND HIGHLIGHTING FLARING AND THE NEED TO REDUCE THE WASTE OF THIS VALUABLE RESOURCES. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK TO PROTECT FRESHWATER SOURCES FROM OIL AND GAS WASTE WATER AND CONTINUED TO PUSH FOR CLEAN-UP OF OLD PITS AND LEAKING GAS WELLS IN PAVILLION. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF ORPHAN OIL AND GAS WELLS ARE ADEQUATELY PLUGGED AND RECLAIMED. OUR EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING WORK AROUND RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTINUED TO GROW WITH THE FORMATION OF THE WYOMING'S FIRST SOLAR TRADE ORGANIZATION. WE PRODUCED MORE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ON SMALL SCALE SOLAR AND WORKED TO INCREASE COMMUNITY SOLAR FACILITIES. WE ALSO FORMED A NEW ORGANIZATION IN LARAMIE, THE ALLIANCE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, FOCUSED ON EXPANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND WORKING TOWARDS A CARBON NEUTRAL FUTURE. FINALLY, POWDER RIVER PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DELINQUENT AD-VALOREM MINERAL TAXES. WE WORKED WITH COUNTY TREASURERS TO COLLECT DATA ON TAX DELINQUENCIES AND PROVIDED INFORMATION TO POLICY MAKERS WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

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