Government officials want more time to discuss oil shale plan

DENVER

The BLM released a draft plan in December to mine the oil locked in rocks on federal land in the three states and gave the public 90 days to comment. Government officials in western Colorado and eight water providers along the Front Range, including Denver Water, have asked for an extension, saying they needed more time to review the 1,400-page document.

The water managers and elected officials are concerned that the oil shale production facilities would drain up to 15 percent of western Colorado’s water supply. They also said the development would displace wildlife and create new sources of toxic waste.

AP