Analysis of Environmental, Legal, Socioeconomic and Policy Issues Critical to the Development of Commercial Oil Shale Leasing on the Public Lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming under the Mandates of the Energy Policy Act of 2005

This report seeks to identify and evaluate the critical legal and economic policy issues in order to inform federal, state, tribal, and other decision makers, as well as affected citizens, of the likely challenges and tradeoffs inherent in implementing a commercial oilshale leasing program on the public lands. Where possible, this report also presents potential approaches to managing these challenges and tradeoffs. This report focuses on the most geologically prospective oil shale area, which is comprised of those oil shale deposits in the Green River Formation capable of yielding at least 25 GPT that are 25 feet (or greater) in thickness,35 and is thought to represent the most attractive development target for commercial leasing and development of oil shale on the public lands.