BLM and DOJ Work to Resume Permits for Key Wyoming Energy Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed additional environmental analysis for the massive 5,000-well Converse County Oil and Gas Project in eastern Wyoming, finding no new significant impacts to groundwater.

This review was ordered by a federal court following concerns about the accuracy of groundwater modeling used in the project’s original approval in 2020. Despite ongoing litigation, the BLM and the Department of Justice are working to resume processing drilling permits, aiming to restart development that could generate billions in federal revenue and create thousands of jobs. The project has strong support from Wyoming officials and industry groups but faces opposition from environmental organizations concerned about groundwater, air quality, and wildlife protections.

WY It Matters

The Converse County Oil and Gas Project represents a major economic opportunity for Wyoming, with potential to create around 8,000 jobs and inject up to $28 billion in federal revenues. For the state’s energy sector, one of Wyoming’s economic backbones, getting this project moving is critical to sustaining growth and maintaining workforce stability.

However, the project’s legal and environmental challenges highlight the need for careful balance between economic development and environmental stewardship. Resolving these issues promptly ensures Wyoming businesses can operate with greater certainty while protecting natural resources critical to the state’s long-term prosperity.