Visitors to national parks in Utah may find them surrounded by oil and gas wells in the years ahead.
Late on Election Day, the Bureau of Land Management announced an auction of more than 50,000 acres of oil and gas parcels alongside Arches, Dinosaur and Canyonlands National Parks.
Environmentalists are acusing the Bush Administration of holding a "fire sale" before leaving office, giving away some of the nation's most pristine wild lands as a parting gift to the big energy companies.
The National Park Service's top official in the state calls it "shocking and disturbing" and says his agency wasn't properly notified.
According to an Associated Press story, some of the parcels are within two miles of park boundaries and the view from the iconic Delicate Arch Natural Bridge may soon include drilling platforms.
The auction is scheduled for December 19.
Link to full coverage below.
