The Montana/Dakotas Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leased 49 parcels in Montana and North Dakota in a quarterly auction that raised more than $3.1 million on 28,834 acres of federal land. Sixteen parcels on about 17,100 acres were leased in Montana; in North Dakota, 33 parcels were leased on about 11,600 acres. Montana BLM spokesman Greg Albright told NGI that proceeds from the auction were the highest of any auction held by the regional BLM office this year. He said the sale did include six parcels in Carbon County, MT, that were being protested by conservation groups, including Trout Unlimited, over the potential negative effects of energy drilling on trout stocks in the Bighorn River. The BLM in July said it deferred leasing 73,600 acres of sage grouse winter habitat in Garfield, McCone and Carbon counties in Montana that had originally been scheduled for the sale (see Daily GPI, July 23).

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