Drillers snap up federal leases near Utah's wilderness monuments

[Judi Lynn]

MARCH 20, 2018 / 6:06 AM / UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO

Valerie Volcovici
4 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday auctioned off more than 51,000 acres (21,000 hectares) in southeastern Utah for oil and gas development, a sign of strong industry demand in a region conservationists have vowed to protect.

The Utah lease sale included terrain near the former boundaries of the Bears Ears National Monument, whose size was scaled back by the Trump administration last year, as well as the Hovenweep and Canyons of the Ancients monuments, according to the bureau.

Results of the online auction, posted on Tuesday afternoon, showed that all 43 parcels up for sale received winning bids, which averaged $28.68 per acre and ranged between $2 and $93 per acre. Total proceeds from the auction were $1.56 million, according to the BLM.

“This means drilling in these parcels poses a more serious and immediate threat to the landscape and archaeological resources,” Aaron Weiss, media director for the Center for Western Priorities, said about the apparent strong demand.

More:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-utah-energy/drillers-snap-up-federal-leases-near-utahs-wilderness-monuments-idUKKBN1GW1AL?rpc=401&

[DBoon]

1. What have they done to the earth?

What have they done to the earth?
What have they done to our fair sister?
Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her
Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn
And tied her with fences and dragged her down
I hear a very gentle sound
With your ear down to the ground
We want the world and we want it
We want the world and we want it now
Now?

https://genius.com/The-doors-when-the-musics-over-lyrics

[mr_lebowski]

2. At those prices I'm sure there WAS 'strong demand' ... wonder how many Russian-linked Co's

And other assorted TrumpCo cronies managed to receive no-competition 'auctions'....

You hit a big strike on a 100 acre plot suddenly your $2800 investment pays you millions or tens of millions, and no doubt the PEOPLE (who's land that actually is) ... are going to be in for a 0% cut aside from some income-type taxes on profits ...

I have no doubt this whole thing is a fucking criminal enterprise, top to bottom.

Not to mention, you know they're gonna be road-building and fracking the shit out of this beautiful wild area ... that's just fucking wonderful.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. total proceeds

That is a pitiful amount. It illustrates that this was a spiteful act.