2023 Western Interstate Region Conference
About the Conference
The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference brings together county officials from across the nation to focus on pressing issues facing counties and our residents. Each year the conference is hosted by a county within the fifteen Western states – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming – and provides attendees with the opportunity to interact with federal, state and regional policymakers, participate in educational sessions and take home tools to address challenges.
County News
WIR showcases Utah counties
Congress advances resolutions to overturn three Bureau of Land Management resource management plans
On October 8 and 9, the U.S. Congress passed resolutions under Congressional Review Act authority expressing disapproval of three Bureau of Land Management resource management plans covering public lands in Montana, Alaska and North Dakota. The resolutions repeal recently finalized resource management plans and revert the areas to prior land use plans.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces it will not develop a recovery plan for the gray wolf
On November 3, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would not develop a national recovery plan for the gray wolf, which is currently considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act in much of the contiguous United States. The Service’s assessment, which determines that a nationwide recovery plan is no longer necessary for gray wolves, is consistent with previous federal agency findings that the species no longer warrant endangered or threatened species protection.
Bipartisan legislation encouraging active forest management advances in U.S. Senate
On January 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471/S. 1462), also known as FOFA. Initially introduced by Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.), this bipartisan legislation will promote active forest management to curtail the wildfire crisis and protect rural communities, infrastructure and natural resources.
NACo WIR submits recommendations for public lands transportation needs
On September 8, NACo’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) submitted comments and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)’s Request for Information to as the agency develops its priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill.
DOI, DOE and the EPA announce new funding and regulatory measures to support U.S. coal industry
On September 29, the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI), Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced coordinated actions to expand domestic coal production and coal-fired energy generation.
NACo testifies on priorities for public lands counties
On September 9, Commissioner Jerry Taylor of Garfield County, Utah, testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations at a hearing titled “Exploring the Economic Potential of the Golden Age of American Energy Dominance.”