Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Rep Joe Neguse sent a letter opposing the proposed oil and gas lease of U.S. Forest Service lands in Routt and Moffat Counties to the Bureau of Land Management. The proposed lease sale is north of Hayden, in the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. The Forest Service first announced that it was analyzing the area for a potential oil and gas lease in mid-June. A flyover on July 24 of public lands area where oil and gas drilling is being proposed. It aims to protect the rights of nearby communities to provide input into proposed oil and gas leases on public land.