News and Events

Oil Shale and Tar Sands Programmatic EIS news, events, and announcements.

May 7, 2013

Governors Consistency Review Letters Available

The Governors Consistency Review letters are now available on Documents.

April 1, 2013

Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision

The Notice of Availability (NOA) for the OSTS PEIS Record of Decision was published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2013.

 Notice of Availability of Approved Land Use Plan Amendments/Record of Decision for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (179 KB)

March 22, 2013

Record of Decision for the OSTS PEIS Signed

BLM Principal Deputy Director Neil Kornze signed the Record of Decision for the OSTS PEIS on Friday, March 22, 2013. The Record of Decision and the BLM's Protest Resolution Report addressing issues raised during the Final OSTS PEIS protest period are available on the Documents page.

November 13, 2012

BLM Notice of Availability Published in Federal Register

 Notice of Availability of the Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (196 KB) published in Federal Register on November 13, 2012.

November 9, 2012

BLM News Release for Issuance of Final OSTS PEIS

 BLM Plan Emphasizes Continued Oil Shale and Tar Sands Research, Demonstration and Development: Two RD&D leases issued for oil shale resources in Colorado (89 KB)

November 9, 2012

2012 Final OSTS PEIS Available

The full text of the Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement is now available on the Documents page.

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Notice of Availability (NOA) (192 KB)

August 21, 2012

Draft OSTS PEIS Comments Available

Public comments received on the 2012 Draft Oil Shale and Tar Sands Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) are now available for downloading/browsing.

May 5, 2012

Draft OSTS PEIS Public Comment Period Closed

The public comment period for the Draft OSTS PEIS is now closed. The comment period began with the publication of the Draft PEIS on February 3, 2012, and ran through May 4, 2012. The Bureau of Land Management is considering all comments on the Draft PEIS that were received electronically or postmarked by May 4, 2012. Responses to comments will be included in the Final PEIS. For more information, visit Getting Involved.

April 11, 2012

GIS Data Available

The GIS data used in spatial analysis and maps supporting the 2012 Draft PEIS is now available for download from the Maps page of this web site. The GIS data include maps of lands that would be available for application for leasing for commercial oil shale and tar sands development under the four alternatives analyzed. These files are intended for detailed viewing and analysis by Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals with commercial GIS software.

February 24, 2012

Public Meetings on the Draft OSTS PEIS Announced

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host four public meetings in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to answer questions about and solicit comments on the oil shale and tar sands Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at the locations and dates listed on the Public Meetings page. For more information, see the BLM News Release:

 BLM Announces Public Meetings on Potential Environmental Impacts of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Development (111 KB)

February 6, 2012

BLM News Release for Issuance of Draft OSTS PEIS

 BLM Issues Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Oil Shale and Tar Sands; Preferred Alternative Identifies Research and Development as Appropriate First Step on Public Lands (64 KB)

February 6, 2012

BLM Notice of Availability Published in Federal Register

 Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (160 KB) published in Federal Register on February 6, 2012.

February 3, 2012

2012 Draft OSTS PEIS Available

The full text of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming is now available on the Documents page.

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Notice of Availability (NOA) (149 KB)

October 21, 2011

Summary of Public Scoping Comments Report Posted

This report presents a summary of the comments received during the scoping process and is intended to assist the BLM in developing the scope of the analyses to be considered in preparing the PEIS. Specific comments and their context are not presented; instead, the relevant issues raised in the comments as they apply to preparation of the PEIS are presented. All comments, regardless of how they were submitted, will receive equal consideration in the development and conduct of the PEIS.

 Summary of Public Scoping Comments for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered By the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (1.2 MB)

October 21, 2011

Web Site Updates

This web site has been updated to reflect information for the 2012 Oil Shale and Tar Sands Programmatic EIS. Unless stated otherwise, all materials reference the 2012 PEIS document and process. The 2008 PEIS and related documents are still available.

April 14, 2011

Notice of Intent Published in Federal Register

 Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (56 KB) published in Federal Register on April 14, 2011.

May 6, 2011

2012 Oil Shale and Tar Sands Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

The Bureau of Land Management is developing the 2012 Oil Shale and Tar Sands Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). For more information on the new PEIS, see the About the EIS page.

For archived news related to the 2008 Oil Shale and Tar Sands Programmatic EIS, see the News Archive page.