For Immediate Release:  March 31, 2006

Contacts:

David Boyd 970-640-3451 Jane Peterson 970-244-3027

Note to media: Representatives from BLM, Chevron, E.G.L. Resources and Shell will be available April 6 at the Doubletree in Grand Junction at 3 p.m. specifically for media interviews. Media are welcome to interview representatives during the open houses as well.

Oil Shale RD&D Open Houses move to Rifle, Grand Junction More than 100 attend in Rangely and Meeker this week

MEEKER, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management continues its public open house meetings on its oil shale research, development and demonstration (RD&D) process April 4 in Rifle at the Garfield County Fairgrounds Event Hall and April 6 in Grand Junction at the Doubletree Hotel, 743 Horizon Drive.

The open house meetings run from 4 to 7 p.m. and will provide an opportunity for the public to comment, learn about the BLM’s environmental review process for Colorado’s five 160-acre RD&D proposals, and speak to representatives from each nominating company.

The public is encouraged to stop by anytime during the open house. There will be short presentations from BLM at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.

More than 100 people attended open houses in Rangely and Meeker March 28 and 30.

The goal of the BLM oil shale program is to promote commercially viable and environmentally sound oil shale production to augment domestic oil production. As part of this effort, the RD&D program was initiated. Energy companies nominated 160-acre parcels of land to research new technologies in recovering oil shale, and five nominations in Colorado are being carried forward at this point: three from Shell Exploration and Production Company, one from Chevron, and one from E.G.L. Resources.

BLM is writing Environmental Assessments for each company’s proposals. The EAs are scheduled to be available in early May for a 30-day public comment period.

“We want to make sure that the public is a part of the environmental review process, and ultimately that their input is considered when we make final leasing decisions on these oil shale proposals,” said Kent Walter, White River Field Manager.

-BLM-