ABSTRACT
The level of future international oil prices is obviously a factor and one of major uncertainties affecting the development of shale. The Synthetic Fuels Corporation has said it is in business to help develop a domestic synthetic fuels industry, including oil shale. The risks to benefits ratio is clearly in the government's favor. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is going ahead with its plan for setting up the leasing regime, without waiting for the Congress to pass needed legislation. BLM is under orders from the secretary of interior to offer additional tracts for leasing under the prototype program which was established in 1973. As a result of the scoping meetings in April 1982, the regional oil shale team state representatives outlined an alternative approach for the permanent oil shale leasing program to that proposed by BLM.
