BLM PULLS 149,000 ACRES FROM LEASE SALES IN DECEMBER

A December sale of federal oil and gas leases will not include 148,797 acres in greater sage grouse habitat in northwest Colorado.

The Bureau of Land Management said Friday that it decided to remove 142 parcels after Gov. John Hickenlooper raised concerns about the impacts of drilling on sage grouse. That will leave about 75,500 acres of public lands up for lease. Most of the remaining parcels are in western Colorado.

The BLM also rescheduled the sale to Dec. 13 from Dec. 6.

“This decision is based on input from the state,” BLM spokesman Steven Hall said. In September, Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet sent letters to the Colorado BLM asking the agency to postpone sale of the parcels because of concerns about the potential impacts on wildlife and a lack of opportunity for public participation. They and area residents also expressed concern about the proposed sale of oil and gas leases on 2,380 acres of public lands in the North Fork Valley of southwest Colorado.