RAWLINS (AP) - The Wyoming Stock Growers and Wyoming Wool Growers associations are asking that ranchers who lose grazing areas to energy development be compensated and that the grazing areas be reclaimed properly.

The two groups sent their joint resolution to the Bureau of Land Management last month.

Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Stock Growers Association, said the resolution is specifically aimed at helping ranchers who graze stock in the Atlantic Rim area southwest of Rawlins. Increased coal-bed methane development is planned for the area next summer.

"The concern about Atlantic Rim is what really drove this policy," Magagna said.

The BLM is proposing to allow drilling of 2,000 natural gas wells on some 270,000 acres of federal, state and private land south of Rawlins.

The BLM's study of the development says roads, facilities, damage to forage and weed invasion could result in the loss of 20,000 animal unit months over the life of the project. An animal unit month is a measurement of the food necessary to sustain one cow and one calf for a month.

BLM spokesman Steven Hall said the agency does consider grazing impacts in considering whether to approve energy development proposals.

In addition, ranchers can be compensated for loss of grazing leases by being allowed to graze their livestock elsewhere or by financial agreement, he said.

"There are a variety of ways that might be addressed," Hall said.

Rancher Niels Hansen, who has leases in the area, said the facilities and roads themselves are not what cause problems.

The actual traffic and heavy equipment work going on at the drill sites disrupts livestock more, he said.

He loses calves to collisions and has had to rearrange his grazing schedule because of drilling and the drought, Hansen said.

"Hopefully, the reclamation programs are going to be good enough, and the good Lord willing, we'll get some moisture," he said.

The coal-bed methane development has had some benefits, Hansen said.

He said he has worked out agreements with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. to tap into the company's water lines to water livestock.