Rally Planned To Protest BLM's Auction Of Oil & Gas Rights
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Dozens of people are planning a protest in Lakewood Thursday morning to show their disapproval of the Bureau of Land Management's auction.
The BLM is selling the mineral rights to oil and gas on over 90,000 acres of public land in southern Colorado and the eastern plains at Pawnee National Grassland. They said the U.S. Forest Service approved the plan, but climate activists are concerned.
Protesters say the development of that resource is capable of producing upwards of 1 million estimated tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution.
Denver Business Bureau reports that Colorado would gain millions in royalties from the auction, but opponents don't want any more development, especially around protected areas like Pawnee.
The auction is set to begin at the BLM Colorado state office in Lakewood at 9 a.m., and protesters plan to start rallying at 8 a.m.