Oil shale conference concludes, “We need citizen action”

This past week I attend an oil shale conference.  There were people from all over the country–big wigs from political backgrounds and then us.  The topic was strategy, and questions included how do we slow down oil shale, and stop the wanton leasing of public lands?

All of the politicos from DC and Denver were stressing the importance of litigation and legislation, for good reason.  But ultimately, for any elected official to stand up for us, it all came back to the same thing–the importance of WCC, our memebers, and the necessity for THE PUBLIC TO ACT!!

Even though the comment period is over for Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, you can still make a difference.  Urge your State Reps and Senators to support the continuation of the funding limitation for an oil shale leasing program.  You can call Trudy Kareus at Sen. Ken Salazar’s Grand Junction office at (970) 241-6631, Andy Treharne at Sen. Wayne Allard’s office at (970) 245-9553 or Governor Ritter’s office in Denver at (303) 866-2471.

Questions? call Frank in our GJ office: 970-256-7650

 

Allard pushes for oil shale

Read the whole story in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent

By Phillip Yates, May 2, 2008

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – United States Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., has joined several other Republican lawmakers to introduce energy legislation to increase domestic energy production by removing barriers to oil shale leasing in the Western United States and drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The American Energy Production Act, announced Thursday, includes language that would repeal a one-year moratorium that prevents the Bureau of Land Management from approving final regulations for commercial leasing of oil shale.  [read more]

 

Oil Shale Comment Period Ends!

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.