It's the most polluting, destructive, expensive and inefficient way to extract oil from the earth. And Utah has rolled out the red carpet for this industry to come to the United States for the very first time.
Tar Sands and Oil Shale mining would put the Colorado River watershed, which 30 million people rely on, at risk of being contaminated and dewatered. Vast landscapes would be destroyed. Air quality in Salt Lake City would be further impaired. Climate disruption would escalate.
The approval of this first United States strip mine was granted despite evidence of catastrophic effects on health, families, water and forests, caused by Tar Sands strip mining in Alberta. And despite the reality that American taxpayers would essentially be hiring wealthy foreign corporations to do it.
First on deck to be strip mined is beautiful PR Springs in eastern Utah. U.S. Oil Sands (a Canadian company), having received approval from Utah's agencies, is looking for investors in order to get started. And the only thing getting in their way is a resolute contingent of local activists, attorneys and citizens.
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Road to Hell is Paved with Tar Sands
