OIL SHALE: What is it and how will it impact the West?

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1:00 EDT

Expiration of oil shale development moratorium would imperil water supplies, wildlife, and global warming efforts in the West.

WHAT: Reporter briefing on congressional action to allow oil shale development on vast areas of the American west.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 23, 1:00 p.m. (EDT), 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

WHERE: (800) 791-2345, conference code 58280#

WHO: Speakers include...

Susan Daggett, Denver Water Board Commissioner

Kathleen Kelly, former Colorado State Rep. and rancher on the Western slope

Craig Thompson, NWF board member, sportsman from the heart of oil shale
country

Others to be announced.

BACKGROUND:

* While research and development continues on federal lands, the rules establishing a commercial oil shale leasing program are currently blocked by a Congressional funding limitation. Because uninformed rules could cost taxpayers billions and allow reckless development, the limitation needs to be extended into 2009.

* Oil shale production requires five gallons of water to produce one gallon of fuel, and the vast majority of shale is located in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming-states with limited water resources.

* Most of America's oil shale is found in Green River Formation in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, home to some of the most valuable wildlife habitat in the United States. Oil shale production creates five times more global warming pollution than conventional drilling and gasoline production.

* Most experts believe commercial production is at least 10 years away while large-scale renewable energy production from wind, solar, and geothermal is available today.

CONTACT:
Craig Culp, NWF, (301) 509-0925, culpc@nwf.org

Drew Bush, The Wilderness Society, 202/429-7441, drew_bush@tws.org