Environmental Activist Causes Chaos at BLM Utah Oil and Gas Lease Sale
Friday’s auction of public land oil and gas leases by BLM Utah was thrown into chaos by local activist Tim DeChristopher, who bid the prices up on parcels of land he has no intention of paying for.
“I thought I could be effective by making bids, driving up prices for others and winning some bids myself.” -DeChristopher
Bidding was halted for a time, and now buyers will have 10 days to reconsider and withdraw their bids. Kent Hoffman, deputy state director, BLM Utah, said, “He’s tainted the entire auction.”
