Colorado

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 8 – The Bureau of Land Management office in Lakewood, Colo., will use the internet to conduct its September auction of federal oil and gas leases.

BLM plans a pilot project in which it will offer groups of parcels for a week at a time. If successful, the agency might conduct all federal lease sales on the web.

Groups of 30-40 parcels are to be offered starting Sept. 9 and 10, but the website is already live to allow prospective bidders to register.

The procedure might open bidding to a larger audience, save bidders traveling to a sale site, and benefit the US Treasury, BLM said. The electronic sale would be in addition to the regularly scheduled oral auctions held in the state.