Formal written protests have become the primary tool used by environmental and sportsmen groups to oppose BLM land leasing for energy development on environmentaly sensitive and important wildlife habitat lands. Since 2001, the annual number of filed protests has risen exponentially in accordance to agressive BLM land leasing needed to meet the demands of an administration focused on energy production. In 2007, the Colorado BLM handled 1,000 protests. Unfortunately, across the United States the BLM has shown complete inconsistency responding to lease protests often disregarding negative environmental effects in favor of energy industry interests.
See the full story here:
http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=17640
Are there other options available to environmental and sportsmen groups?
Do possibilities exist for collaboration between BLM, energy companies, and environmental groups that produce integrated management plans to protect important habitat while allowing energy development?
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