The Trump administration is again shelving plans to allow oil and gas drilling on public land in Colorado after complaints from state officials and activists.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Friday some of the land is in big game habitat and some is in the North Fork Valley in western Colorado, where bureau officials are in the process of revising resource management plans.
The land covers about 116 square miles (300 square kilometers) in 58 parcels.
“We appreciate the BLM’s thoughtful decision to listen to the concerns of Coloradans,” U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said in a written statement. “The Governor and I worked in lockstep to ensure the input of communities, sportsmen, and conservationists was at the center of this process. We will continue working with the BLM to balance responsible energy development with other natural resource priorities in Colorado.”
It’s the second time in two weeks the bureau has withdrawn land from a planned Dec. 13 auction of drilling rights.
On Oct. 19, the bureau said it was removing 230 square miles (600 square kilometers) because it’s habitat for the greater sage grouse, which Western states and federal agencies are trying to protect.
- La comunidad Sans Souci de casas móviles en el Condado de Boulder aprovechó entusiasmadamente la ley de Colorado de la “oportunidad de comprar”. Así le está yendo.
- Cemex to Boulder: Don’t look at that study we paid for
- Cemex tells Boulder County to ignore the traffic study it paid for that led to plant’s shutdown
- A plan for Sweetwater Lake takes shape, minus an emphasis on calling it a state park
- When Colorado’s legislature returns next year, there won’t be any Democratic lawmakers who were once in the minority
- Would Colorado’s “assault weapons” bill have allowed authorities to confiscate people’s guns?
- Colorado receives $32.8 million to replace decades-old lead pipes and improve drinking water systems
- Zornio: Colorado Sun readers have ideas. Here are a few of my favorites
- On the other side of the bridge
- A broken bridge leaves an isolated Colorado community scrambling to save summer