US Interior Dept. to Open Up States to Oil Shale Research

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday the federal government will open up public lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming to new oil shale research and development, although the agency plans to investigate last-minute changes to existing leases issued by the Bush administration.

Energy companies can submit applications for a second round of oil-shale research and development leases within 60 days after the Interior Department publishes a notice in the Federal Register, Salazar said in a telephone call with reporters.

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