Authorizes the board of land commissioners to designate state land as state heritage sites based on exceptional archaeological, historical, or cultural value, establishes a nomination and review process, and nominates the Glenrock buffalo jump for designation.
- Allows the board of land commissioners to designate specific parcels of state land as state heritage sites if the land possesses exceptional archaeological, historical, or cultural value that would be irreparably degraded by industrial use, provided the designation is consistent with the greatest long-term benefit of state land trust beneficiaries. (W.S. 36-1-122(a))
- Establishes a nomination process allowing Wyoming citizens, the legislature, local government entities, Northern Arapaho or Eastern Shoshone tribal governments, and the state archeologist to nominate state lands for heritage site designation through application to the department of state parks and cultural resources. (W.S. 36-1-122(b))
- Requires the department of state parks and cultural resources to review nominated lands and provide a recommendation to the board after consultation with the Wyoming parks and cultural resources commission and state historic preservation office. (W.S. 36-1-122(b))
- Prohibits the board from authorizing industrial use on designated state heritage sites or surrounding lands that significantly impairs the visual integrity or archaeological, historical, or cultural value of the site. (W.S. 36-1-122(c)(i))
- Requires the board to consider issuing leases of state heritage sites for educational and research programs, sustainable tourism activities including guided tours, and recreational use that will not deplete, destroy, or permanently alter the site. (W.S. 36-1-122(c)(ii))
- Defines 'greatest benefit' or 'greatest long-term benefit' to include consideration of long-term protection of financial and intrinsic value of land, and for heritage sites specifically, mitigation of depletion or alteration. (W.S. 36-1-101(a)(ix))
- Assigns the department of state parks and cultural resources responsibility to accept applications for heritage site designation and make recommendations to the board of land commissioners.
