Uinta County Commission approves man camp permit

The Uinta County Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for Target Hyper/Scale, a division of Target Hospitality, to construct a workforce hub or "man camp" on county-owned land adjacent to Bear River State Park. This facility is designed to house workers for a 1.25-gigawatt data center project led by Prometheus Hyperscale.

During the July 21 commission meeting, Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson Kallas addressed and dispelled public misconceptions, including allegations of commissioner-company ties, kickbacks, and premature ground-breaking. Kallas confirmed that all prior discussions were conducted in public work sessions and outlined 18 conditions for the CUP. These conditions include compliance with Wyoming Environmental Quality Standards, dust abatement, water and sewer service agreements with the City of Evanston, coordination with the Bear River Outdoor Recreational Alliance, maintenance of the Bear River State Park travel center access road, and a traffic impact analysis with WYDOT. Construction on the workforce hub must commence within five years, similar to the data center's CUP.

Public comment revealed divided opinions. Evanston resident Gary Stewart expressed support for the data center but opposed the "man camp," questioning the necessity of 3,500 workers for a project of that size and suggesting a postponement until after the General Election. Brad Fearn, a neighboring ranch owner, raised concerns about fire potential and trespassing from the proposed site. Eric Mander specifically sought assurance that the facility would not be converted into an ICE detention facility, which Kallas confirmed would be stipulated in the lease. Conversely, Rocco O’Neill, a fifth-generation Evanstonian, spoke in favor, highlighting the need for jobs, investment, and economic development to counteract Uinta County's stagnant economy and youth outmigration, asserting that concerns about water and power usage for data centers have been addressed in the design.

Commissioners Mark Anderson, Eric South, and Brent Hatch supported the permit, citing research and a positive tour of a Target Hospitality hub in Winnemucca, Nevada. They emphasized the professionalism of the facilities and their commitment to ensuring the lease agreement would significantly benefit Uinta County. The permit's conditions will only take effect upon the execution of a mutually acceptable lease agreement between Target Hyper/Scale and Uinta County.