The Bureau of Land Management will defer selling natural-gas and oil leases on about 12,000 acres in southwestern Colorado.
Twelve parcels, including some near Mesa Verde National Park, were to be auctioned Feb. 14. But The Durango Herald reports (http://bit.ly/WIjEhK) Connie Clementson of the BLM says the agency needs more time to address protests, and she also wants more time to meet with newly elected government officials in the affected counties.
The BLM earlier this week said it was deferring leases in western Colorado's North Fork Valley following extensive public concern.
Leases on roughly 80,000 acres across Colorado still will be offered.
Meanwhile, the BLM is deferring plans to lease three parcels near Dinosaur National Monument in May, and plans to offer only portions of two other nearby parcels.
Oil, gas leases on 12K acres in SW Colo. delayed
POSTED: 03:40 PM MST Feb 08, 2013
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