BLM reconsidering acreage for oil shale, tar sands
The Salt Lake Tribune
First published Apr 13 2011
The Bureau of Land Management will conduct a “fresh” study to determine how much public acreage to open to potential oil shale and tar sands development, the agency announced Wednesday.
In 2008, under the Bush administration, the agency amended eight area management plans in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming to open about 1.9 million acres for oil shale development and more than 430,000 acres for tar sands.
With technological issues still leaving development of the resources in question, industry has taken little action since then. The BLM called its new environmental study “a fresh look at what public lands are best suited” for development.
“The BLM remains committed to a thoughtful, orderly and responsible oil shale development program,” BLM Director Bob Abbey said in a statement.
The government will take public comments about the program and is conducting seven scoping meetings in the three states. The first three are in Utah, starting with an April 26 meeting at Salt Lake City’s Little America Hotel.
Brandon Loomis
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51621233-78/blm-oil-shale-april.html.csp
