After receiving protests from environmental groups

and river outfitters, the  U. S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

last week temporarily withdrew more than 55,000 acres of land along the

Green and San Rafael rivers from its first oil and gas lease sale this

year.

    The sale, which took place on February 21, raised

$9.4 million in revenues for the federal government despite the

agency’s removal of the 30 controversial parcels, agency officials

announced on Tuesday. In all, 78 parcels that covered about 115,000

acres of land near Vernal, Price, Richfield, Monticello and Cedar City

were offered for lease, and 59 parcels were sold, according to a BLM

news release.

    “The sale results reflect that Utah is at the heart

of the Rocky Mountain oil and gas frontier,” Utah BLM manager for oil

and gas leasing Teresa Catlin, said in a statement.

    Agency officials said last week that they were

withdrawing the controversial parcels until further analysis of the

sites could be completed. But the BLM also indicated that it is likely

that more detailed analysis of the properties will support energy

exploration and development on those lands. If the BLM reaches that

conclusion, the 55,000 acres will be offered for lease at a later time,

BLM officials have said. The agency plans three more oil and gas lease

sales later this year.

    Environmental groups and others protested the sale

of the parcels, including more than 100,000 acres of land proposed for

wilderness along the San Rafael River and the San Rafael Desert, and

about 3,700 acres along scenic stretches of Labyrinth Canyon on the

Green River– saying the sites are national treasures that should be

preserved.

    “Once again, the BLM and the Department of the

Interior are rushing to lease and develop as much public land as they

can, as fast as they can,” said Stephen Bloch, staff attorney for the

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, in a statement. “And once again, BLM

is selling off public treasures that are of great historical and

natural significance.”