Forest Service to yank proposed energy leases

The U.S. Forest Service will ask that proposed energy leases on 13,000 acres of proposed roadless forest land in Colorado be withdrawn from an upcoming federal auction. The Forest Service blames an oversight for the inclusion of the land in an upcoming energy lease sale on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre (un-kum-PAW'-gray) and Gunnison national forests in western Colorado. Regional Forest Service officials say they'll submit a formal request to the Bureau of Land Management next month asking the parcels be removed. The land, part of 4 million roadless acres proposed statewide, was added to the state's plan after the oil and gas leases were submitted for sale.