Meanwhile, he said, the BLM Vernal Field Office is working on a new land-use plan. One of the alternatives being considered in the plan is designating the location being discussed as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

"We find it troubling that BLM acknowledges that this upper Desolation Canyon area has special, important values," Bloch said, "and at the same time is considering authorizing new gas wells."

The wells would "obviously impair those values," Bloch said.

Several other areas in Utah in Book Cliffs that were proposed for wilderness designation by the coalition are recognized to have wilderness qualities, and "have had or are seeing new proposals for oil and gas development," he added.

The wilderness alliance will be filing a comment on the latest proposal, said Bloch.

Stephanie Howard of the BLM Vernal Field Office, reached by telephone Thursday, said that so far, "we haven't received a lot of comments" on the proposal.

Comments may be sent to Bureau of Land Management, Attn.: Stephanie Howard, 170 S. 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078. Also, they may be may be faxed to 435-781-4410.

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com