GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., asked the government to postpone a mineral-lease auction that includes the Colorado entrance to Dinosaur National Monument.
Salazar asked the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to postpone Thursday's scheduled auction of leases -- including gas and oil -- on 47,545 acres since some people learned of the auction just last week.
Salazar said the bureau's Web site has been down for months because of security concerns, forcing residents to travel long distances to get the information, the Grand Junction (Colo.) Sentinel reported Wednesday.
Salazar said many residents do not own the mineral rights on their land.
Colorado Bureau of Land Management Director Ron Wenker would consider the request, a spokesman said.
The auction was to include 1,100 acres near Harpers Corners Drive, the Colorado entrance to Dinosaur National Monument.
Conservationists, a group of retired National Park Service employees, and some area residents and business owners oppose the move to lease mineral rights.
