Tuesday, November 25, 2008

BLM, Park Service renew ties Utah Bureau of Land Management officials said they made a mistake in not keeping the National Park Service in the loop on an upcoming oil and gas lease sale. The two agencies decided Monday to renew a 1993 document that stated that they agreed to meet annually to discuss common interests and concerns. The so-called memorandum of understanding stipulated that the BLM must give the Park Service advance notice of oil and gas developments on public lands near national parks. That advance notice didn't happen with an oil and gas lease sale planned for Dec. 19 in Salt Lake City. After getting last-minute notice about the BLM's plans, the Park Service objected to the BLM's offering of parcels that border Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Dinosaur National Monument. BLM state director Selma Sierra and the Park Service's regional director Mike Snyder are expected to announce Tuesday which of the more controversial parcels bordering the parks and monument will be pulled from the sale....

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