Oil Shale in the Piceance Basin: An Analysis of Land Use Issues,

Rand has developed an analytical methodology that explains the effects of federal leasing policies on the resource recovery, extraction costs, and development times associated with oil shale surface mines. The methodology was applied to the types of deposits found in Colorados Piceance Basin, which contains the most concentrated oil shale deposits in the world. This report explores the effects of lease size, industry development patterns, waste disposal policy, and lease boundaries on the potential of the Piceance Basin oil shale resource. The approach described here should aid in understanding the relationship between federal leasing policies and the requirements for developing Piceance Basin oil shale. The results are expected to be useful to researchers interested in policy and program issues concerning the development of the U.S. oil shale resource.