JACKSON - Newly appointed U.S. Sen. John Barrasso says he would support buying back oil and gas leases to prevent further energy development in the Wyoming Range.

Barrasso stopped short of saying he would introduce legislation backed by the late Sen. Craig Thomas that would have curbed further leasing and retired leases acquired by conservation groups in the area in western Wyoming.

But Barrasso said he would support limiting development if property rights could be upheld.

"It would be nice if there was a way to buy back those leases or work in a way that respected those private property rights but still protected an area that needs to be protected long term," he said.

He said he has "real concerns" and was hoping to hear from people all over Wyoming.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal appointed Barrasso on June 22 to replace Thomas, who died June 4.

Barrasso has taken a similar stance on other environmental issues on which Thomas was working. Shortly before his death, Thomas introduced the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act of 2007.

The act would protect 443 miles on 14 streams from water quality degradation and dam building. Barrasso said he had gone through the bill.

He didn't give the legislation wholehearted endorsement.

"I have visited with folks in Teton County that are very supportive of it, and I have visited with folks in Lincoln County and Sublette County, and there are some concerns," he said.

Thomas had already pulled portions of streams in Lincoln County due to opposition to the designation there. But Barrasso said he needed to talk more with people in the surrounding counties before deciding to support the measure as is.

To that end, Barrasso plans to hold a town hall-style meeting in each of Wyoming's 23 counties before Labor Day. He has already stopped in Cody, Thermopolis, Riverton and Jackson.