Jaunted

Tags: National Parks / Environment / → All Tags

US Officials Battle Over Oil Drilling Near National Parks

On Election Day, when most Americans were glued to their televisions, the US Bureau of Land Management announced they’d be selling more than 50,000 acres of land with the intention of offering the new owner an opportunity for gas and oil drilling. So what? These lands sit right outside the boundaries of national parks.

Obviously environmentalists are concerned over this and are quick to accuse the Bush administration of trying to sneak one by the American people. Even National Park Service officials are claiming that they weren't properly notified of the offering, and are less than pleased with the administration’s decision.

On the other side of the issue, if you're interested in submitting a bid for these acres, they're primarily located on the borders of Arches National Park in Utah along with Dinosaur and Canyonlands National Parks. So far there’s been a lot of finger pointing as government agencies continue to blame one another about what was decided and how to move forward. The lands are scheduled to hit the auction block on December 19, but we have a feeling that might soon change.

Related Stories:
· Uproar Over Federal Drilling Leases Next to Parks [AP, via Google]
· National Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NatalieMaynor]