Sen. Salazar’s Statement on DOI’s Announcement of Draft Oil Shale Regulations

Release Date: July 22, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC

Contact: Matt Lee-Ashley Office of Senator Ken Salazar 202-228-5905

Contact: Senator Ken Salazar Office of Ken Salazar 202-374-3791

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Sen. Salazar’s Statement on DOI’s Announcement of Draft Oil Shale Regulations WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Salazar issued the following statement regarding the announcement that the Department of Interior is publishing draft regulations for the commercial development of oil shale:  “The Administration is trying to set the stage for a last minute fire sale of commercial oil shale leases in Western Colorado, despite the fact that we are still years away from knowing if the technologies for developing oil shale on a commercial scale are even viable,” said Senator Salazar.  “As Western communities already know, this type of rush puts us at risk of another oil shale bust.  Before we move ahead with commercial leasing, we need to know what impact oil shale will have on Western water supplies, whether the technology will work on a commercial scale, where we would get the power for the projects, and what effect it would have on our land and wildlife.  To move beyond these draft regulations would amount to putting the cart in front of the horse.  I will continue to fight for Western Colorado communities and for an orderly process for development.” Last year, Senator Salazar worked to restore a thoughtful, responsible process to oil shale development by preventing the Administration from rushing ahead <http://salazar.senate.gov/news/releases/071217oilshale.htm>  with finalizing the regulations announced today and issuing commercial oil shale leases.   For more information about the myths and realities of oil shale development, click here <http://salazar.senate.gov/images/pdf/0806112oilshale.pdf> .  For an op-ed that Senator Salazar recently wrote on the responsible development of oil shale, click here <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071401846.html> .