Oil Shale

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Where oil shale is in Utah

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AP Article on Red Leaf

OIL SHALE AND THE COLORADO RIVER: No Water to Spare!

Submit comments to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding a research, development and demonstration (RD&D) program on federal lands for commercial oil shale development. Utah is one of three western states that house oil shale deposits of the Green River formation.

While oil shale is being hailed as the cure-all for all of the country’s energy woes, there are real concerns that commercial production of oil shale will consume much of the water in the Colorado River.

The Governors of Colorado and Wyoming joined by the Public Lands and Parks Director of Utah and the largest agricultural and municipal water provider in Colorado, have all raised serious concerns about whether there is sufficient water available—let alone available water rights—to support this industry. Even if there is, the economic hardship caused by displacing other water users—including agricultural, residential and industrial—also needs to be addressed.

At present, despite considerable investments in RD&D, companies remain years away from establishing the economic viability, technical efficiency, and environmental performance of the technologies that would make oil shale development economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

The Department of the Interior is currently accepting public comments on oil shale development on federal lands

until May 28, 2009.

Mail written comments to:

BLM

Attn: Nick Douglas

Minerals and Realty Management

Mail Stop: LS 807

1849 C Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20240

OR email comments to: Nick_Douglas@blm.gov

Federal Register Notice

Sample Letter

Talking Points for RD&D