Groups protest Nov. 8 energy lease sale

Posted by egable on October 26th, 2007 filed in Endangered species, Energy development

A slate of environment groups and wildlife officials are protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to put fish and wildlife habitat on the auction block at its Nov. 8 lease sale. More than 189,000 acres of wildlife habitat is set to be auctioned off at the sale, including 37,652 acres defined as “core areas” for the greater sage grouse by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The sage grouse is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The Division notified BLM in August that it felt leasing in sage grouse habitat was inappropriate.

The environmental groups filing protests include Center for Native Ecosystems, National Wildlife Federation, Colorado Wildlife Federation, Colorado Audubon and Trout Unlimited. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) has also filed a protest, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. The paper also reported that the Colorado Division of Wildlife has asked BLM to remove more than 120,000 acres from the sale.