Environmental Implications of Oil-shale Development

Abstract

Certain areas of the Piceance Creek Basin are important, not only for their beauty and other amenities but also for their unusual ecosystems. Stoecker (1974) has suggested maintaining one of the larger boxcanyons in the southern portion as a nature reserve. Knutson & Boardman (1973) have suggested preserving a ‘green belt’ to involve the magnificient bluffs adjacent to the Colorado River. Preservation of the Cathedral Bluffs running north and south in the western portion has also been suggested. It is clear that a movement is growing to provide a system of natural areas throughout the Basin. Such a system would maintain important examples of representative vegetation types, wildlife habitat, geological and archaeological features, and other areas of particular ecological interest. This preserve system would maintain natural (or semi-natural) areas both as ecological baselines and as nuclei for obtaining biological ‘seed’ for rehabilitation of disturbed areas. A study to delineate suitable areas that could be included in such a system is surely needed.Man is viewing vast resources in the Piceance Creek Basin, which probably has the world's largest known hydrocarbon deposit, and his use thereof seems inevitable. The magnitude of the deposit certainly demands a major planning effort. One can even speculate into the future, as Knutson & Boardman (1973) have done, to visualize a concerted or systems approach to obtaining and processing this resource.Nevertheless, until commercial activity begins and monitoring procures actual data, predictions will remain speculative. Operation of a few commercial plants, mines, and rehabilitation activities, is needed in order that precise predictions can be made for better delineation and quantification of the environmental impacts of a major shale-oil industry.

Use of Public Rangelands in the American West

“…This broadening of the Bureau's perception of its clientele reflects an increase in the interest that groups other than ranchers have recently expressed in the public domain. For example, the conflict between resource development and environmental quality has extended to the unappropriated public lands with proposals for the mining of petroleum, oil-shale, and coal, and for the construction of electric generating-plants (Gillette, 1973;Bishop, 1974;McLellan, 1975;Kilburn, 1976). Arguments have arisen over whether non-native but feral ungulates, specifically horses and burros, or native ungulates, such as Bighorns (Ovis canadensis), should receive priority in the use of forage and water (Carothers et al, 1976;Taylor, 1977).…”

Surface-mine Rehabilitation in the American West

“…Pertinent studies that have been made in the same region include those of Kilburn (1976), while authors concerned in comparable ways with other regions include Etter (1973), Werner (1973), and Gregory (1974).…”