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Save the Wild West: Help stop rampant oil shale development!
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| Oil shale burning |
Right now, the federal government is encouraging new oil shale and tar sands development in the West, specifically in eastern Utah, western Colorado, and southern Wyoming. Traditional shale development requires massive strip mines and heavily polluting plants, and even newer methods require the entire production area to be bulldozed while consuming huge amounts of energy.
If the Bush administration and the energy industry have their way, the wild public lands near some of our nation’s treasured places may be tarnished forever.
The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a commercial oil shale and tar sands development program in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Please, urge the agency to protect our treasured places like Utah’s Book Cliffs and Colorado’s White River from harmful oil shale development.
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Please take a few minutes to personalize your letter -- identical comments have very little weight with the BLM!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Concerns about western oil shale development
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to request that you consider all resources and values of our Western public lands when moving forward with oil shale development. In learning from past experience, we know that oil shale development can have devastating impacts to the surrounding land, air, water, wildlife and communities. Though oil shale activity is being considered in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, the impacts of this activity are bound to affect many communities across the West that depend on these lands and these natural resources.
Many of the lands selected for development are lands that I strongly feel need protection, including the Red Desert in Wyoming, Utah's Book Cliffs, and the White River in Colorado.
I urge the BLM to analyze carefully how much oil shale development would change the surrounding landscape, including impacts to air and water, the effects on neighboring communities, and the consequences for wildlife, before moving forward with this plan. Thank you for taking these comments into consideration.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
January 17, 2006
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| Oil shale burning |
Many westerners remember the oil shale debacle 25 years ago when the industry went bust before it even got started. Even modest attempts to tap this resource using an invasive “retort” process left lasting scars on the landscape, and industry promises of an economic boom for local communities were followed by the harsh reality of a spectacular energy bust that resulted in lost jobs, dashed hopes, and despoiled public lands. Instead of learning from past mistakes, Congress is once again turning to oil shale and tar sands as a magic solution to our country's energy needs.
If the BLM and the energy industry have their way, the wild public lands near some of our nation’s treasured places may be tarnished forever. Traditional shale development requires massive strip mines and retorting plants, heavy polluters that leak toxic compounds and increase salinity in local waters. Newer methods cook the shale underground, but still require the entire production area to be bulldozed while consuming huge amounts of energy that could lead to more coal-fired power plants, and could result in large-scale groundwater contamination after operations are abandoned.
What Happens Next?
The BLM has begun to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to analyze the environmental, social, and economic impacts from a commercial oil shale and tar sands development program in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. The BLM is holding public meetings this month in Colorado and Wyoming (unfortunately, Utah’s public hearings have already passed). Basically, this is the kickoff for the environmental review process and the first opportunity for the public to urge the agency to take the necessary steps to protect our treasured places like Utah’s Book Cliffs and Colorado’s White River from harm. You can help by submitting personal comments on oil shale and tar sand development to the BLM, which will be accepting scoping comments through the end of January.
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| Oil shale retort |
If you prefer to send your comments by mail, please address them to:
BLM Oil Shale and Tar Sands Leasing
Programmatic EIS Scoping
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne IL 60439
1/18/06 Update on Oil Shale Development
On January 18, 2006, the Bureau of Land Management announced that it is moving forward with eight parcels that were nominated for “Research, Development, and Demonstration” oil shale leasing. Six of the parcels are in Colorado; all lie southwest of Meeker, west of Piceance Creek, and south of the Duck Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Two parcels are in Utah, and both lie approximately 50 miles south of Vernal.
The agency is supposed to conduct environmental reviews and allow opportunities for the public to weigh in before beginning any significant activity on federal lands. As we learn more about the BLM’s process, we will keep you updated.
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