Colorado objects to Trump oil-gas drilling plans

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and Gov. John Hickenlooper say the Trump administration isn’t giving the public enough time to comment on plans to drill for oil and gas on public land.

In letters to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Tuesday, the two Democrats also asked the government not to go ahead with plans to let energy companies drill on habitat for the greater sage grouse, a bird that Western states and federal agencies are trying to protect.

An agency spokesman said the bureau is reviewing Hickenlooper’s letter. He declined to comment on Bennet’s.

The bureau oversees the sale of oil and gas leases on most federal land. Hickenlooper said new government rules shut out public comment in some stages and limit it to 10 days in others.

He said that’s insufficient, especially in the case of an upcoming auction of 360 square miles in Colorado.

Earlier

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and Gov. John Hickenlooper say the Trump administration isn’t giving the public enough time to comment on plans to drill for oil and gas on public land.

In letters to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Tuesday, the two Democrats also asked the government not to go ahead with plans to let energy companies drill on habitat for the greater sage grouse, a bird that Western states and federal agencies are trying to protect.

An agency spokesman said the bureau is reviewing the letters.

The bureau oversees the sale of oil and gas leases on most federal land. Hickenlooper said the new rules shut out public comment in some stages and limit it to 10 days in others.

He said that’s insufficient, especially in the case of an upcoming auction of 360 square miles in Colorado.