Interior proposal would limit commercial oil shale development on federal lands in West

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Hill

The Interior Department on Friday issued a final plan to close 1.6 million acres of federal land in the West originally slated for oil shale development.

The proposed plan would fence off a majority of the initial blueprint laid out in the final days of the George W. Bush administration. It faces a 30-day protest period and a 60-day process to ensure it is consistent with local and state policies. After that, the department would render a decision for implementation.

The move is sure to rankle Republicans, who say President Obama’s grip on fossil fuel drilling in federal lands is too tight.

Interior’s Bureau of Land Management cited environmental concerns for the proposed changes. Among other things, it excised lands with “wilderness characteristics” and areas that conflicted with sage grouse habitats.

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Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/267095-interior-proposes-shielding-federal-lands-in-west-from-drilling

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

1. The more carbon we burn, the further we are away from a sustainable ecosystem.

The bullet must be bitten hard, now, which may be too late already.

Seriously, people, it's real. Denial only makes it worse.

[defacto7]

2. I don't think you'll find too many deniers here...

I'm not sure. But there are many degrees of acceptance.

I for one accept the fact that man made AGW is a fact. I also think it is too late for a turn around that will divert very difficult times for the human race. But we have to think about saving life on this planet, and the act of doing so hopefully will bring us into a better time and better understanding. Where we are going now is certain demise.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Closing the BLM land to

Oil shale needed to be done. Nothing to do with energy Independence,it's about water folks. The real truth is we in the desert southwest are in a 20 year drought. I know,there are those who say bullshit,O.K.,how come we haven't had a single year with average or above average moisture since 1989. Main reason appears to be the Green River and Colorado river Basin drainage. That would be the only source of the needed water for Oil Shale Mining,and by the way,it takes one hell of a lot of water just to make a barrel of this highly cruddy crude.

[freshwest]

4. +1,000