US issues final rule on leasing oil shale lands in 3 western states

摘要

Washington-The US Interior Department announced November 17 its final regulations to govern the commercial leasing of pubic lands for production from oil shale in three western states, a move the department estimates could result in the equivalent of 800 billion barrels of oil. The regulations will control development on 1.9 million acres of federal land in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. By issuing them before November 20, they will be finalized before January 20, making it much more difficult for President-elect Barack Obama to reverse the decision.