Sec. Salazar Announces DOI will offer new RD&D OIl Shale Leases

On October 20, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Ken Salazar, announced that the Department will invite submission of applications for a second round of RD&D oil shale leases.  A notice will be published soon in the Federal Register.  Companies will have 60 days to submit their applications for up to 160 acres.  During round one, 5 RD&D leases were granted in Colorado’s Piceance Basin.   Lessees would need to demonstrate feasibility for commercial development  to qualify for an additional 480 contiguous acres.