Grand Junction Submits Comments On Oil Shale Plan

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - Leaders in Grand Junction say any federal policy on oil shale should require a study of how commercial activity would affect surrounding areas.

The Bureau of Land Management has proposed making less than 500,000 acres of public land in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado available for research on how to develop oil from oil shale in a commercially viable way.

In comments submitted to the BLM, the Grand Junction City Council and mayor said they support oil shale research but also remember a previous oil shale boom in western Colorado. They said the BLM should acknowledge that funding will be crucial to mitigating impacts.

The period for the public to submit comments on the BLM's proposal ends Friday. Several Colorado communities have submitted comments with various views.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

In:
• Bureau of Land Management