Lawsuit filed over auction of oil, gas lease rights

HASTINGS, Mich. (AP) -- A lawsuit has been filed seeking to invalidate a Michigan auction of state-owned oil and gas lease rights. MLive.com reports the lawsuit in Barry County Circuit Court in Hastings claims the state's Department of Natural Resources isn't protecting the Barry State Game Area and the Allegan State Game Area. Michigan Land Air Water Defense also seeks to invalidate state leases auctioned in May. DNR spokesman Ed Golder says the auction took place Wednesday and the DNR plans to fight the claim in court. The Lansing State Journal reports seven protesters were arrested at the Lansing Center for resisting police or disrupting a public meeting during the auction. The DNR says lease rights don't give permission to extract oil or gas. That needs an OK from the Department of Environmental Quality. Published: Fri, Oct 26, 2012