Wyoming · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Pumpkin Buttes ACEC
BLM found a natural system, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 55 mining claims BLM lists as Filed, 3 oil and gas leases and 16 rights of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 1,743 acres and was designated September 21, 2015, in the Buffalo Resource Management Plan.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 55 claims sit inside this line: 0 active and 55 filed and pending, 55 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 55 as Filed.
- LIA ENERGY CORPORATION55claims
BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.
The rights of way
16 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 6 under non-energy facilities, 4 under distribution line, 3 under other energy facilities and 3 under oil & gas facilities.
- POWDER RIVER ENERGY CORP7rights of way
- CHIPCORE LLC1right of way
- POWDER RIVER ENERGY CORPORATION1right of way
- NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS LLC1right of way
- ELEVATION IMPROVEMENT SYSTEMS LLC1right of way
- PINNACLE TOWERS1right of way
- WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- THREE FORKS RESOURCES LLC1right of way
- CENTRAL WYOMING COLLEGE1right of way
- WRC ENERGY LLC1right of way
The oil and gas leases
3 active oil and gas leases sit inside the line. 0 of them took effect before the area was designated on September 21, 2015.
- ANSCHUTZ EXPLORATION CORPORATION2leases
- R & R ROYALTY LTD1lease
Grazing allotments
3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Willow Creek (T Chair)54,927acres
- Camblin5,000acres
- South Middle Butte1,233acres
The nearest areas
- Jackson Canyon ACECWyoming · 14,348 acres · 1 right of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it74miles
- Big Cedar Ridge ACECWyoming · 270 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it83miles
- Whoopup Canyon ACECWyoming · 1,414 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it89miles
- Spanish Point Karst ACECWyoming · 11,463 acres · 15 grazing allotments covering part of it93miles
- Alcova Fossil Area ACECWyoming · 5,977 acres · 3 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it94miles
More from BLM's Wyoming office
Every area BLM's Wyoming office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Pumpkin Buttes ACEC. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.
The rule's abstract
The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026