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(KSL News) This morning thousands of acres of Utah public land leases go up for auction despite strong opposition.
The Bureau of Land Management is set to auction off more than 100,000 acres of Utah's red rock country to oil and gas developers. But officials have agreed to not actually hand over the leases for at least a month, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed in federal court. Until then, the money earned from today's auction will go into an escrow account to give the judge time to make a decision.
A popular Utah filmmaker is among those calling for a stop to today's auction.
Robert Redford has called the auction "morally criminal." He joined members of Congress and a coalition of other groups condemning the auction yesterday.
Several of the groups have contacted KSL and say they are planning to protest today's auction.
To read statements from both sides of the issue see the links on this page.
