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Wyoming law

Environmental Laws in Wyoming.

Wyoming environmental law is administered principally by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under authority of the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act (Wyo. Stat. § 35-11). Wyoming is a principal coal-production state (Powder River Basin — producing approximately 40% of U.S. coal) and a major natural-gas and oil producer. Federal environmental law (Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA) is often administered by Wyoming DEQ under EPA-delegated authority. The federal government owns approximately half of Wyoming's land, making federal-agency practice (BLM, USFS, NPS — Yellowstone and Grand Teton) central to Wyoming environmental and natural-resources law.

Last verified: 2026-04-20

State law

Key Wyoming Statutes

Wyoming Environmental Quality ActWyo. Stat. § 35-11

Wyoming's principal environmental-regulation statute — administered by DEQ and covering air quality, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, and land quality (mining).

Wyoming's surface-mining regulatory program under the Land Quality Division — implements federal SMCRA for coal and provides state-only regulation for other minerals.

Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation ActWyo. Stat. § 30-5-101 et seq.

Wyoming's oil-and-gas conservation and pooling statute — administered by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

State law

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Wyoming.

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