SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Two oil shale research deals clear fed hurdle"

Very well done report from Dennis Webb.  Down and over on the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

Dennis Webb:
".....Both companies have proposed in-situ projects in which kerogen would be heated in place underground to produce oil. The processes would take place deeper than freshwater aquifers, in formations isolated from them, to minimize groundwater impacts.

“RD&D leases provide the opportunity for industry to test and develop technologies to determine whether they can be viable on a commercial scale,” Kent Walter, field manager of the BLM’s White River Field Office, said in a news release. “This critical research, development and demonstration work will also help us answer important questions about the water demands and potential impacts of commercial-scale development, so that we can forge a responsible and orderly path forward if the technology proves viable.”

The environmental review’s release follows the BLM’s recent proposal to sharply reduce overall acreage available for potential oil shale leasing in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Under that proposal, it also would consider issuing only RD&D leases first, with the potential to issue commercial leases later depending on the success and impacts of initial projects....."
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"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Mesa County blasts BLM oil shale plan"

Looks like all that heat that GarCo commissioners are taking from their detractors doesn't carry a lot of persuasion with neighboring counties.

They agree with our BOCC when it comes to the issue of oil shale leasing controls.

Mike Wiggins:
"Mesa County commissioners on Monday blistered the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to slash the amount of land potentially available for oil shale and tar sands development in the Rocky Mountain West, alleging the federal agency is irrationally capitulating to environmental groups and ignoring the input of local governments and other stakeholders....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."