Press Release- June 12, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
GOV. RITTER TO FEDS: ACT RESPONSIBLY ON OIL SHALE
Gov. Bill Ritter today endorsed federal legislation to slow down commercial oil shale leasing, and the Governor's administration also submitted comments on the Bureau of Land Management's preliminary draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on oil shale and tar sand development.
Gov. Ritter had asked BLM for an additional 120 days to review the PEIS but was granted only 28 additional days.
"The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Public Health and Environment, and other state agencies worked extremely hard to submit these preliminary comments in a very short period of time," Gov. Ritter said. "We're disappointed that the federal government denied our request to adequately review and provide more extensive input on a matter of such high importance to the people of Colorado."
The PEIS and Colorado's comments are expected to be made public in August.
In addition, the Western Governors' Association today sent a letter of support to Rep. Nick Rahall, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Rahall has introduced H.R. 2337, including Section 104, which would amend the Energy Act of 2005 to slow down the process leading to commercial oil shale leasing in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
The letter was initiated by Gov. Ritter at the WGA's annual meeting, which ended today. "We recognize that oil shale is a critical resource for the entire nation, but the potential development of a large scale commercial oil shale program demands a thoughtful discussion "both at a federal and state level," the letter states.
"Unfortunately, an oil shale program development schedule has been imposed that hampers the ability of the states to constructively participate in the process," the letter continues. "Our concerns are heightened by the lack of detailed information about the technologies that would be involved; the potential effects on our lands, water, air quality, and wildlife; the conflicts with other uses of scare resources; and the potentially serious adverse impacts on local communities."