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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Some environmentalist say the recent oil and gas leasing of 90-thousand acres of the Uinta National Forest violates the federal Roadless Rule.
A consortium of environmental, sportsman and outdoor recreation groups have protested the sales. They say the land is prime deer and elk habitat and contains blue-ribbon trout streams.
Besides that, the 10-year leases overlap land under federal protection banning development.
The Forest Service says the agency went by the book on the sales, and they're working with the Bureau of Land Management to resolve the protests.
The Roadless Rule might also soon be out the door, because the Bush administration is trying to scrap the Clinton forest plan.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
