Thursday, May 15, 2008
2:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 a.m. Mountain
Wilderness Society Director Asserts Need for Caution
2 Million Acres of Public Lands in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah at Stake
Thousands of local residents and more than 2 million acres of wild public lands such as western Colorado's Piceance Basin and Utah's San Rafael Swell could experience fouled water, disrupted wildlife, polluted air and damaged habitat if Congress acts rashly and begins oil shale development before the industry is ready, according to Steve Smith, the assistant regional director for The Wilderness Society's Denver office. Smith will testify at a Senate oversight hearing tomorrow on efforts to develop oil shale, a hearing sought by Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), the legislator behind recent bills seeking to over-turn the current moratorium on oil shale leasing.
WHAT:
Senate Committee On Energy and Natural Resources Full Committee Oversight Hearing: To Receive Testimony on Development of Oil Shale Resources
WHEN:
Thursday, May 15, 2008; 2:30 p.m. EST / 12:30 a.m. MTN
WHERE:
366 Dirksen Senate Office Building
If you can't make the hearing, please consider watching the Web cast at:
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Nowebcast
WHO:
1) C. Stephen Allred, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior;
2) Gov. Bill Ritter, Governor, State of Colorado;
3) Terry O'Connor, Vice President, External and Regulatory Affairs, Shell Exploration & Production, Denver;
4) Steve Smith, Assistant Regional Director, Wilderness Society, Denver
5) Jim Hansen, Representing Oil Shale Exploration Co., Farmington, Utah.
Contact: Drew Bush, The Wilderness Society, 202/429-7441