Monday, April 21, 2008 was the end of the comment period for the BLM’s Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Oil Shale and Tar Sands. With the help of citizens, local governments and conservation groups, we generated over 60, 000 comments! According to the BLM, an oil shale industry in northwest Colorado would drastically change our landscapes. IF the BLM and private industry got their way, over 300,000 acres of Colorado public lands would be dedicated for oil shale extraction. If that happens, water would be diverted from agriculture and municipalities, recreation opportunities would be drastically reduced, air quality would drop significantly, and our close-knit communities would become industrialized and urban.
Even though the comment period is over, citizens can still make a difference! Contact your local and state representatives; tell them you are concerned about the fast pace of oil shale development in your backyard. Let your elected officials know that a thorough research, development and demonstration process is critical to the responsible development of oil shale!! Tell your representative to support the continuation of a funding limitation that stops all leasing activities on public lands before technology is proven to be environmentally sound.
