BLM To Hear Protest On Leases

The Bureau of Land Management has started a 30-day protest period for a mid-March lease sale that includes 148,908 acres of public land between Rock Springs and Hoback Junction. The area includes a variety of Wyoming’s landscapes, including the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor, and habitat designated for the protection of Greater sage-grouse. Because of the government shutdown, BLM only had 8 business days to review, evaluate, and respond to comments from the public, before announcing the protest period. Last week, the House Natural Resources Committee held a forum on the how the administration was continuing to focus on approving oil and gas permits and leases during the government shutdown, in spite of broad criticism from conservation groups, House Democrats, tribal leaders, and othersof the proposed lease sale. The sale is slated to take place March 19thand 20th.

Jackson Hole Radio