(Courtesy photo by Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity/EcoFlight) The Bureau of Land Management proposed leasing 2,100 acres on Asphalt Ridge, pictured here in Utah’s Uinta Basin southwest of Vernal, for tar sands extraction. On Dec. 11, however, the agency suspended its approval process after learning that the project’s applicant is a BLM contract employee.
Brian Maffly has worked for The Tribune off and on since 1994. Maffly roams Utah, covering public land and environment.