Looks like the daggers were out this week when Robert Redford, a trustee for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), spoke out over the Bush Administration’s proposal to auction off federal land near national treasures in Utah for oil and gas exploration. But whilst environmentalists welcomed the added strength to their corner,  others lashed out saying that, “Redford is just another big mouth actor, trying to force his opinions down everyone else’s throat.”

The leases are said to cover 110,000 acres in various plots near some of the most beautiful national parks, monuments and historic native art sites, including Arches National Park.

Those for more exploration and drilling argue that it’s essential to lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Redford, however called the move “morally criminal” and said he “was shocked about how devious and sneaky” Bush has been. “These lands are part of our legacy … not Cheney’s and Bush’s,” Redford said. “[They've] been trashing the environment since they came in, like it was their prerogative.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Earthjustice, Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, National Parks Conservation Association, and National Trust for Historic Preservation formed a coalition and filed suit to block the sales, which they see as a sneaky 11th-hour move by the White House.

“Development of these leases will degrade air quality at Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument,” the group states in its complaint. “It will lead to construction of well pads, pipelines and roads in some of Utah’s most impressive wilderness quality landscapes such as the Desolation Canyon wilderness character area … one of the largest, roadless areas in the lower forty-eight states.”

The National Park Service, which normally is consulted before such an announcement, was surprised by this one, according to The Los Angeles Times.

One area of particular interest is Nine Mile Canyon, a place loaded with ancient native rock art that has been described as having “the longest outdoor art gallery in the world.”

“We included Nine Mile Canyon on the list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places because it’s being damaged, perhaps permanently, by oil and gas drilling-related truck traffic near the canyon,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “The Bureau of Land Management agrees that dust and chemicals from the traffic are damaging this fragile place, which makes its decision to approve even more leases — and more truck traffic — bewildering.”

Redford, who owns a home in Utah and hosts the annual Sundance Film Festival there, said the leasing issue is emotional for him, since he has spent much of his adult life in southern Utah, on foot and horseback.  He has been criticizing the planned auction since November. “Bush’s environmental policies have been a disaster,” Redford said. “Whether it’s going to work or not is going to depend on whether the public wakes up to what’s really going on.”

If the auction takes place, environmental activists will likely turn to President-elect Barack Obama for help. Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar, named Wednesday as Obama’s choice for Interior secretary, has not spoken publicly about the Utah lease plan.

In his four years in the Senate, Salazar has been a champion for “responsible” energy production on public lands – opposing efforts by the Bush administration to develop oil shale resources in the West and to open up Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but rather helping to broker a deal allowing more offshore production. Salazar has also been a vocal advocate of renewable energy, and the public lands he will oversee include some of the nation’s largest sources of wind, solar and geothermal energy.

Redford, who has worked with Salazar on environmental issues, called his nomination encouraging and said Salazar has sent signals he opposes drilling on sensitive lands.  “He didn’t farm oil rigs,” Redford said, referring to Salazar’s past as a rancher in Colorado.