EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and
Development
Office of Energy, Minerals and
Industry
Washington, D.C. 20460
EPA-600/7-78-020
February 1978
EPA PROGRAM
STATUS REPORT:
Oil Shale
Interagency
Energy-Environment
Research and Development
Program Report
-------
RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology. Elimination of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The nine series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
6. Scientific and Technical Assessment Reports (STAR)
7. Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
8. "Special" Reports
9. Miscellaneous Reports
This report has been assigned to the INTERAGENCY ENERGY-ENVIRONMENT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT series. Reports in this series result from the
effort funded under the 17-agency Federal Energy/Environment Research and
Development Program. These studies relate to EPA's mission to protect the public
health and welfare from adverse effects of pollutants associated with energy sys-
tems. The goal of the Program is to assure the rapid development of domestic
energy supplies in an environmentally-compatible manner by providing the nec-
essary environmental data and control technology. Investigations include analy-
ses of the transport of energy-related pollutants and their health and ecological
effects; assessments of, and development of, control technologies for energy
systems; and integrated assessments of a wide range of energy-related environ-
mental issues.
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
-------
EPA-600/7-78-020
February 1978
EPA PROGRAM STATUS REPORT:
OIL SHALE
prepared by
Cameron Engineers
1315 So. Clarkson Street
Denver, Colorado 80210
William N. McCarthy, Jr.
Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry
Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
-------
EPA REVIEW NOTICE
This report has been reviewed by the Office of Research and Development, EPA, and approved for pub-
lication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use.
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield,
VA. 22151
ii
-------
FOREWARD
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is involved in oil shale research and development through
projects for which it provides funds, and in staying abreast of projects funded by other governmental and
industrial sources. Research provides data for defining ecological and health effects and for developing
cost-effective control technology that can be used by government and industry to minimize degradation
of the environment.
This report presents the status of current EPA projects related to oil shale research and development.
iii
-------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank Mr. Thomas J, Powers, Mr. Eugene Harris, and Mr. Edward Bates of EPA's
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. Terry Thoem of EPA Region VIII,
Denver, Colorado; Dr. Dave Coffin of EPA's Health Effects Research Laboratory in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina; and Mr. William N. McCarthy, Jr., Mr. Gerald Rausa, and Dr. Greg D'Alessio of
the Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry in Washington, DC for their time and efforts in providing
data and review comments for the preparation of this report.
iv
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Executive Summary vii
CHAPTERS
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Rationale 1
2. PROGRAM OVERVIEW 3
2.1 Extraction and Handling 3
2.2 Processing 4
2.3 Energy-Related Processes and Effects 4
2.3.1 Ecological Effects 4
2.3.2 Environmental Transport Processes 4
2.3.3 Measurement and Monitoring 6
2.3.4 Health Effects 6
2.4 Integrated Assessment 7
3. CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS 9
3.1 Extraction and Handling 9
3.2 Processing 11
3.3 Energy-Related Processes and Effects 15
3.3.1 Ecological Effects 15
3.3.2 Environmental Transport Processes 15
3.3.3 Measurement and Monitoring 15
3.3.3.1 Air Monitoring 16
3.3.3.2 Groundwater Monitoring Methodology Development 16
3.3.3.3 Water Monitoring 17
3.3.3.4 Instrumentation Development 18
3.3.3.5 Monitoring Methods for Characterizing Water Pollutants 18
3.3.3.6 Development of Techniques for Measurement of Organic Water
Pollution 18
3.3.3.7 Development of Ambient Monitoring Guidelines 19
3.3.4 Health Effects 19
3.3.4.1 General Supportive Studies 19
3.3.4.2 Pollutant Analysis Studies 20
3.3.4.3 In Vivo Studies 20
3.3.4.4 In Vitro Studies 22
3.4 Integrated Assessment 25
v
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
Page
FIGURES
1. Principal Oil Shale Deposits of the U.S. 2
2. EPA's Oil Shale Work Croup 5
3. EPA Oil Shale FY 1977 Funding Summary 8
4. Shale Disposal Experimentation Plot-Anvil Points, Colorado 12
5. Paraho Surface Retort-Anvil Points, Colorado 14
TABLE
1. Current Program Status Summary 27
APPENDICES
A. World Resources and Development History A-1
B. Abbreviations B-1
C. Glossary C-1
D. Ceneral References on Oil Shale D-1
E. EPA Published Reports on Oil Shale E-1
INDEX
vi
-------
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry
was established in 1975 to assure that our national
energy goals are matched with an effective research
and development program in the critical area
where energy needs and environmental protection
goals overlap. The Office of Energy, Minerals and
Industry provides a focus for the EPA's own en-
vironmental/energy/industry research and devel-
opment efforts and also serves as the coordinator
of a comprehensive Interagency Energy/Environ-
ment Research and Development Program. This
program established a mechanism to plan, coor-
dinate, and fund research and development on
clean energy use and pollution control technology
activities within the participating governmental
agencies.
The Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry's
oil shale research and development activities are
performed by more than a dozen Federal agencies,
public and private research institutions, and EPA
laboratories.
EPA's Industrial and Environmental Research
Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been instru-
mental in leading major research in oil shale
development by supporting coordinated, inter-
agency, oil shale efforts through its administration
of a research and development program covering
environmental assessment and development of
extraction and process control technology.
The EPA Health Effects Research Laboratory
in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is
assessing human exposure-effects relationships
and is evaluating hazards to man under controlled
experimental conditions. Current activity by the
Environmental Research Laboratory in Duluth,
Minnesota, includes the study of oil shale-related
fresh water ecosystems effects. EPA's Region VIII
office in Denver, Colorado, is developing a com-
prehensive information profile for major fresh
water aquatic environments that could be affected
by oil shale development, and is coordinating air
and water monitoring in regional oil shale activities.
Other EPA monitoring research is done at its
Environmental Monitoring and Support Labora-
tories at Las Vegas, Cincinnati, and Research
Triangle Park. Las Vegas activities include western
regional groundwater monitoring and techniques
development, and overhead monitoring. Cincinnati
stresses water techniques development and
quality assurance. Research Triangle Park is
developing energy-related air monitoring quality
assurance support and air pollutant measurement
and instrumentation research.
EPA is studying the fate in fresh waters, ground-
waters, and air of specific pollutants resulting
from oil shale development. The Environmental
Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia, is studying
the fate of specific pollutants in fresh waters,
and the Environmental Research Laboratory in
Gulf Breeze, Florida, is assessing carcinogenic
compounds that travel by air or water and their
effects on the food chain consumed by man.
Federal agencies carrying out work under the
Interagency Energy/Environment Research and
Development Program with EPA pass-through
funds include: the Department of Energy; the
U.S. Navy; the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health; the U.S. Department of Agri-
culture; the U.S. Bureau of Mines; the U.S. Geo-
logical Survey; the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Many
public and private institutions conduct research
and monitoring activities with funds provided by
these Federal agencies and the EPA.
In summary, EPA plays an active role in many
areas of oil shale research and development.
EPA is maintaining a close surveillance on the
projects of other Federal agencies in order to
preclude duplication and to stimulate active
results which can be applied to the technological
advancement of oil shale while maintaining the
the environmental integrity of the oil shale area.
VII
-------
EPA PROGRAM STATUS REPORT:
OIL SHALE
-------
1. INTRODUCTION
This report provides an overview of current oil
shale research and development (R&D) efforts
being performed by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), or funded by EPA money passed-
through to other Federal agencies under the Inter-
agency Energy/Environment R&D Program. This
chapter introduces the background and rationale
behind EPA's efforts. Chapter 2 discusses the
EPA program goals and fiscal year (FY) 1977 pro-
gram funding. The scope-of-work for on-going
projects and a table summarizing these efforts
are presented in Chapter 3.
1.1 BACKGROUND
Since its establishment in 1970, the EPA has
been involved in energy-related environmental
research efforts, including the development of
pollution control technologies designed to elim-
inate the adverse effects that are often by-products
of energy conversion.
The recent national policy emphasis on devel-
opment of domestic energy supplies stimulated the
formation of an Office of Energy Research (OER) by
the EPA in late 1974. The OER was established
within the Office of Research and Development
(ORD). Reorganization of ORD in june 1975
combined industrial and mineral extraction pol-
lution control research with energy-related en-
vironmental research in a new Office of Energy,
Minerals and Industry (OEMI).
OEMI provides a focus for EPA's own environ-
ment/energy/industry R&D efforts and coordinates
the comprehensive Federal Interagency Energy/
Environment R&D Program. This program is a
seventeen-agency effort whose goafs include:
environmental protection during every phase of
accelerated development and use of energy
supplies, with emphasis on domestic resources;
and, the development of cost-effective pollution
control technologies for energy, industry, and
mineral extraction and processing systems.
1.2 RATIONALE
Our cheap and abundant energy supplies are
rapidly being depleted. Domestic reserves of oil
and natural gas have been declining since 1970,
and imported oil and gas are growing increasingly
more expensive. Similarly, U.S. vulnerability to
supply interruption also increases. By the mid-
1980's the U.S. could be vying for scarce oil against
its allies and other consuming nations, causing
even greater price increases and pressure on the
world oil supply.
Consequently, the U.S. must reduce signifi-
cantly its reliance on imported oil and gas, and
make greater use of domestic energy resources.
The present energy mix consists of crude oil,
natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, and some
geothermal power. There is considerable R&D
activity on other energy sources such as solar,
tar sands, synthetic oil and gas from coal, and oil
shale.
The principal known oil shale deposits of the
U.S. are shown on Figure 1. The richest of the
large thick deposits is the Green River Formation
of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. This region
contains the largest single known concentration
of hydrocarbons in the world. If only that portion
of the Green River Formation that contains the
equivalent of 25 gallons (or more) of oil per ton
of shale were mined, it has been reliably estimated
the oil in-place amounts to about 731 billion
barrels of oil.
Because western oil shale is a domestic energy
resource of considerable magnitude, the avail-
abifity of large quantities of crude sha/e oil for
refining products such as gasoline, diesel, and
jet fuels could sharply expand the U.S. energy
supply. Current R&D work is oriented toward
finding an economically and environmentally
practical way of producing shale oil and bringing
it to market.
1
-------
In utilizing domestic resources, the nation
can ill-afford a repetition of the environmental
damage which has so often accompanied extraction
and processing in the past. Even greater environ-
mental damage could occur under a crash program
of energy development unless accompanied by
sound environmental control.
The goal of EPA is to ensure that environment-
al problems are anticipated and evaluated and
to develop pollution control measures to hold
environmental impacts within acceptable limits.
600 MILES
0 200 MILES
Figure 1.
PRINCIPAL OIL SHALE DEPOSITS OF THE U.S.
Explanation
Tertiary deposits: Green River Formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; Monterey Formation,
California; middle Tertiary deposits in Montana. Black areas are known high-grade deposits.
Mesozoic deposits: Marine shale in Alaska.
^ Permian deposits: Phosphoria Formation, Montana.
Devonian and Mississippian deposits (resource estimates included for hachured areas only).
Boundary dashed where concealed or where location is uncertain.
2
-------
2. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
EPA's studies of oil shale development are
principally supported by funds from the Interagency
Energy/Environment R&D Program. The studies
provide information on health and ecological
effects from pollutants created by the extraction
and processing of oil shale. EPA is also developing
information on technological methods that can be
used to control the release of those pollutants.
By working in a closely coordinated effort, EPA
and the Interagency Program will allow the oil
shale industry to develop in an economically and
environmentally sound fashion with the best and
most practicable control technologies.
Within EPA, the Oil Shale Work Group (OSWG)
is working to assure a coordinated and integrated
approach to oil shale R&D efforts. Formed in 1975
by OEMI, the OSWG consists of individuals se-
lected from EPA laboratories and offices who
have environmental responsibilities associated
with oil shale development. The OSWG provides
EPA with technical expertise for up-to-date infor-
mation on oil shale development and its environ-
mental impacts at the policy/decision-making
level. Also, OSWG is responsible for formulating
an overall environmental research strategy for oil
shale development and for exploring avenues of
coordinated R&D operations within EPA and the
Interagency Energy/Environment R&D Program.
Figure 2 shows the members of the OSWG.
OEMI's oil shale R&D activities are coordinated
by EPA, but are performed by more than a dozen
Federal agencies under the Interagency Program,
public and private research institutions, and
various EPA laboratories. The overall effort is
divided into four program areas:
• Extraction and Handling
• Processing
• Energy-Related Processes and Effects
• Integrated Assessment
The remainder of this chapter examines each
of these areas as they relate to oil shale R&D,
and discusses their program funding. Total fund-
ing for FY 1977 EPA oil shale efforts is $3,135,900.
At the end of this chapter, Figure 3, shows EPA
funding and pass-through funding for the oil
shale program.
2.1 EXTRACTION AND HANDLING
EPA's program for oil shale extraction and
handling attempts to assess potential environ-
mental problems and develop resource handling
and control methods for in situ and surface oil
shale extraction and land reclamation. This pro-
gram is needed in order to define environmentally
acceptable practices for the extraction of oil shale.
The semiarid and arid oil shale areas of the west
will be extremely difficult to restore.
Work being performed involves assessing the
potential environmental impact upon air and
water resources from extraction and handling of
oil shale resources. Also included are studies of
disposal and revegetation of spent oil shales.
A project is underway to determine the water
quality management objectives for surface and
subsurface drainage within the oil shale areas of
Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Two other pro-
jects are investigating the surface stability and
salt movement in TOSCO, USBM, and Paraho
spent oil shales and soil-covered spent shales after
a native revegetation has been established by
intensive treatments and then left under natural
precipitation conditions. The nature, quantities,
and specific sources of fugitive dust emissions are
being determined in the vicinity of mining oper-
ations, haulage roads, crushing operations, and
spent shale transfer points. Collection of data is
continuing on these projects.
For FY 1977, $305,900 was spent on the oil shale
extraction and handling program. Of this, $100,000
was passed-through EPA to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) for water quality work on
surface and subsurface drainage.
3
-------
2.2 PROCESSING
The EPA program for processing seeks to ensure
that future large-scale commercial applications
of oil shale processing, combustion, and utiliza-
tion can be constructed and operated within
required environmental limits. The program's ap-
proach includes the environmental assessment,
evaluation, and testing of a number of processes
in order to 1) define the best available control
technology, 2) prepare standards-of-practice
manuals and 3) support standards setting efforts.
Current work within EPA's processing program
involves technical and administrative program
support activities to EPA/OEM I to carry out its
responsibilities as lead agency for environmental
research on oil shale processes. This work includes
the maintenance and updating of synthetic fuels
documents, support in organizing professional
meetings, and consultation on technical problems.
The processing program has sponsored field
testing of oil shale surface retorting. Preliminary
inorganic and organic water sampling and trace
element analyses of retorted shale and raw shale
particulates have been made at the Paraho de-
monstration site at Anvil Points, Colorado, by
TRW and the Denver Research Institute (DRI).
The objective was to obtain quantitative and
qualitative measurements of air, water, and solid
compositions and to gain experience which will
lead to improved sampling procedures and the
determination of priorities for sampling and
analysis of shale recovery operations.
Under another contract, TRW and DRI are
studying the environmental impacts of oil shale
development, and are evaluating the technologies
available for the control of air, water, and solid
waste emissions.
The FY 1977 budget allocation for the processing
program was $638,000.
2.3 ENERGY-RELATED PROCESSES AND EFFECTS
The energy-related processes and effects pro-
gram is designed to identify the mechanisms of
movement within the environment and the effects
on human, animal, and plant populations which
are associated with energy-related activities. The
goal of the program is to compile and evaluate
information to support decisions relative to the
protection of natural biota, human health, wel-
fare, and social goals. This program includes four
areas that are directly involved in oil shale R&D:
ecological effects; environmental transport
processes; measurement and monitoring, and
health effects.
2.3.1 Ecological Effects
The ecological effects research program is
inter-related to the results of research conducted
in other areas of the Interagency Program, Vari-
ous methods and instruments developed and refined
within the measurement and monitoring areas,
and the results of environmental transport pro-
cesses studies are used to characterize the eco-
system effects associated with oil shale develop-
ment. The various research efforts determine the
effects of organic and inorganic pollutants, thermal
discharges and complex effluents on water and
land ecosystems.
Current research efforts include the determination
of immediate and long-term ecosystem dose-
response relationships for single pollutants and
combinations of pollutants released by oil shale
extraction, conversion, and utilization, and to
assess the effects of mining-related transportation
systems on water, air, soil, plant, animal, and
aesthetic resources.
For FY 1977, $100,000 has been spent on oil
shale research through the ecological effects
program. Work has been conducted by EPA's
Environmental Research Laboratory in Duluth,
Minnesota.
2.3.2 Environmental Transport Processes
This research area is closely integrated with
the research areas of measurement and monitor-
ing, and ecological effects. Within the former re-
search area, methods and tools are developed,
4
-------
Photo courtesy of Eugene Harris
Figure 2.
THE EPA OIL SHALE WORK GROUP
From left: Edward A. Schuck, EMSL Las Vegas; Terry Thoem, Region VIII Denver; Thomas ). Powers,
IERL Cincinnati; William N. McCarthy, )r., OEMI, Washington, D C.; Wesley L. Kinney, EMSL Las Vegas;
Eugene Harris, IERL Cincinnati; Leonard H Mueller, ERL Duluth; Atley jefcoat, IERL RTP; and Edward
R. Bates, IERL Cincinnati. The group is standing in front of the Bureau of Mines Big Bore in the Piceance
Creek basin. Members not pictured: Leslie McMillion, EMSL Las Vegas; Robert Newport, R S. Kerr Lab-
oratory; Kenneth Biesinger, ERL Duluth, Dr David Coffin, HERL RTP; Clint Hall, ORD; Ann Alford, ERL
Athens; Dr Dale Denney, RTP; Dr. Norm Richards, ERL Gulf Breeze; Charles Sedman, RTP; Mark Mercer,
OSW; John Cunningham, OEM; Robert Thurnau, IERL Cincinnati; Dr Charles Prien, Denver Research
Institute; Alden Christianson, IERL Cincinnati.
5
-------
tested, and applied to provide data useful in
the understanding of transport and fate processes.
Ecological effects studies are related to the effects
of pollutants on natural organisms and their hab-
itats. Environmental transport processes research
addresses energy-related pollutants in terms of
mechanisms of dispersion from sites of production,
transformations which occur subsequent to re-
lease, and ultimate accumulation in man, do-
mesticated and wild animals and plants, and in
non-living material such as soil and sediments.
Current efforts are underway to develop methods
to predict groundwater changes resulting from
mining activity. Presently, the information being
generated is in the area of coal strip mining, but
the methods will be extrapolated to include oil
shale retorting. Efforts in 1978 and 1979 will con-
centrate on oil shale.
Funding for the environmental transport processes
program was $200,000 for FY 1977. Funds went
to EPA's R.S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab-
oratory in Ada, Oklahoma.
2.3.3 Measurement and Monitoring
This research area involves the detection,
measurement, and monitoring of pollutants, and
the performance of quality assurance activities
to characterize the ecosystem effects associated
with oil sh^le development. The objectives are
to accelerate the development of new and im-
proved sampling and analysis methods for energy-
related pollutants and to identify, measure, and
monitor energy-related pollutants prior to and
during any oil shale development activities.
The measurement and monitoring program is
defining baseline environmental conditions and
is analyzing the impacts of energy development
on the environment by the identification, measure-
men^ and long-term sensing of air, land, and water
quality. The various research efforts investigate
organic and inorganic pollutants, thermal dis-
charges and complex effluents on water and land
ecosystems.
Another important aspect of this program is
quality assurance. The data that are collected on
environmental pollutants must be valid and relia-
ble, so a separate subprogram was designed to
guarantee data accuracy. The quality assurance
activities seek to insure that a common acceptable
methodology be used by all entities who perform
monitoring so that data may be compared.
The FY 1977 funding for oil shale measurement
and monitoring projects was $525,000. EPA's
Environmental Monitoring and Support Labora-
tory in Las Vegas, Nevada received $225,000,
and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) received
pass-through funds of $100,000. Each of the fol-
lowing received $50,000: EPA's Region VIII in
Denver, Colorado; EPA's Athens Laboratory; and
pass-through funds to the National Bureau of
Standards (NBS) and the Department of Energy
(DOE, formerly ERDA).
2.3.4 Health Effects
The health effects research program seeks to
determine the hazards from pollutants released
by various energy technologies. The program in-
cludes the development of bioassay and other
techniques to measure hazards, and the application
of these techniques to the characterization of
hazards to human health. In relation to human
health, the emphasis of the program is on the
effects of agents which give rise to carcinogenesis,
mutagenesis, teratogenesis, toxicity, and dis-
orders of the cardio-pulmonary system.
A variety of pollutant species are being examined
for their impacts on human health. Research
efforts have confirmed that pollutants such as
sulfur and nitrogen oxides and their atmospheric
reaction products are detrimental to human
health.
Another major effort has been to assess the
potential health impacts of developing energy
technologies. Although a number of preliminary
assessments have been made, most of the data
are derived from processes in the early stages of
development. It is acknowledged that standard
setting information must be based upon extra-
polation of bench or pilot scale data to the com-
mercialization stage. This developmental work
also provides guidance to industry on the anti-
6
-------
cipated environmental regulations in order to
avoid sudden and expensive equipment alterations.
Other work involves a number of testing meth-
ods that have been developed or refined by
research supported by EPA. These efforts include
new methods of identification by means of cyto-
logical, biochemical, and physiological indicators,
of the damages resulting from exposure to pol-
lutants associated with energy development. By
incorporating these techniques into a hierarchial
testing methodology, EPA's health effects program
has been able to efficiently allocate available
research funds in the Interagency Energy/Environ-
ment R&D Program.
Funding for the health effects program for FY
1977 was $826,600. Of this amount, $500,000 was
directly applicable to oil shale projects. The re-
mainder ($326,600) accounted for projects involving
oil shale and other fossil fuels in integrated re-
search. EPA's Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, and Gulf Breeze, Florida, Laboratories
have on-going programs accounting for $162,000,
EPA has FY 1977 pass-through funds of $580,000
going to DOE laboratories, and $84,600 passed-
through to the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH).
2.4 INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
The integrated assessment program was estab-
lished to define and evaluate the various environ-
mental and socioeconomic effects which result
from energy extraction, processing, transportation,
conversion and end use activities. Objectives of
the program include: identification of energy
supply and conversion alternatives; evaluation
of the cost/risk/benefit trade-offs of energy pro-
duction, conservation, and pollution control
alternatives; assistance to the nation in the selection
of optimized policies for the attainment of en-
vironmental quality goals; and, identification of
critical gaps in current energy-related research
programs, and of other priority research topics,
which must be addressed to support direct EPA
responsibilities.
Projects are underway to determine the impacts
that various energy resources, including oil shale,
will have on the western U.S. The work will assess
agricultural-economic implications, resource
competition and use resulting from energy devel-
opment. The work will also estimate the impact
of energy development on employment, income,
and population of rural communities, and of local
government finances and services. Interrelationships
of local government expenditures to employment,
population, income, age structure, and other
socio-economic variables will be analyzed. To
date, data and preliminary impact analyses have
been completed.
Funding for the integrated assessment program
is $4%,000, with the USDA receiving $396,000
passed-through EPA.
7
-------
Pass —Through Funds
Total Funding: 3,135.9 K
© funds passed through to:
U.S. Geological Survey -100.0 K
National Bureau of Standards - 50.0 K
Department of Energy - 50.0 K
) funds passed through to:
National Institute for Safety and Health - 84.6 K
Department of Energy - 580.0 K
Figure 3.
EPA OIL SHALE FY 1977 FUNDING SUMMARY
(in thousands of dollars)
8
-------
3. CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS
Each EPA funded project falls under a category
described in Chapter 2 of this report. The same is
true for projects supported by EPA pass-through
funds. Table 1 on page 27 summarizes the status
of EPA's current oil shale program.
3.1 EXTRACTION AND HANDLING
Within the extraction and handling program
are three projects sponsored by EPA's Industrial
Environmental Research Laboratory in Cincinnati
(IERL-CIN), and being performed by Colorado
State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. These pro-
jects deal with surface stability, water movement
and runoff, water quality, and revegetation of
processed oil shale. A similar complimentary
project is being conducted by the USDA using EPA
pass-through funds. Another study is being con-
ducted by TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach, California,
which analyzes the mining and handling operations
and the fugitive dust emitted at the Paraho site
in Colorado.
Technologies for Controlling Adverse Effects of
Mining on Forest, Range and Related Freshwater
Ecosystems
Coordinated studies are underway to develop
technologies for controlling adverse effects of
mining on forest, range, and related freshwater
ecosystems. The studies are being conducted by
USDA Forest Service research scientists at sever-
al locations in the Northern Creat Plains and
Southwest U.S., by the Rocky Mountain Forest
and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Col-
orado; the Intermountain Forest and Range Ex-
periment Station, Ogden, Utah; the Forest En-
vironment Research Staff, Washington, D.C., and
the Northeastern Forest and Range Experiment
Station, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
The work will: (1) develop guidelines and criteria
for overburden drilling, analysis, and placement
as related to growth-supporting media; (2) prepare
technical handbooks on revegetation recommen-
dations for new research; (3) develop guidelines
and criteria.for the use of non-mine wastes as soil
amendments on oil shale spoils, and (4) develop
recommendations, guidelines, and criteria, based
on new research for revegetation following oil
shale mining. This project is sponsored by USDA
with pass-through funds from EPA. Term of the
contract is from 1975 to 1979.
Water Quality Hydrology Affected by Oil Shale
Development
Colorado State University is under a grant from
IERL-CIN to study the water quality of both surface
and subsurface drainage within the oil shale
areas of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Specific
objectives of this study are to: (1) gather all avail-
able data pertinent to the present and future
assessment of the water quality hydrology in the
oil shale regions of the Upper Colorado River basin;
(2) summarize and analyze these data in order to
identify data deficiencies, needs for additional
data, and procedures for the assessment of the
impact on water quality management, and (3)
develop procedures for the quantitative assessment
of the quantity and quality of surface and sub-
surface runoff from processed shale residue
and mine spoils, and to verify these procedures
on a field scale.
Term of this project is from June 1975 to June
1978. Consideration is being given to extending
the contract to J une 1980.
Fugitive Dust from Oil Shale Extraction
TRW, Inc., is working under contract to IERL-
CIN to obtain samples of fugitive dust generated
at the Paraho shale oil operations at Anvil Points,
Colorado. Support services and facilities have
been worked out with the site operator, Develop-
ment Engineering, Inc., Grand Junction, Colorado.
The nature, quantities, and specific sources of
fugitive dust emissions were determined in the
9
-------
vicinity of mining operations, haulage roads,
crushing operations, and spent shale transfer
points. A survey was made of the mining and oil
shale handling operations, to determine the sources
of fugitive dust, and candidate locations for col-
lection devices. Visual observations of dust-gen-
erating operations and local wind behavior was
useful in preparing the equipment plan and choice
of methodology.
The principal dust collection devices were
high-volume samplers. The samplers had cumulative
timers and included a means of operating only
when the wind direction was in the range identi-
fied with a particular sampler. These were sup-
plemented by cascade impaction samplers for
determining particle size distribution. Testing
locations and periods of operation were reviewed
to obtain concurrence and assure that mining and
extraction operations were not affected by the
sampling activity. Meteorological instrumentation
was also provided at each collection location to
record wind direction and velocity continuously.
As in most mountain valley terrains, there is a
strong upslope wind during midday, and downslope
wind in the evening and early morning hours.
However, local wind patterns may vary, so that
close surveillance was required to determine
when a collector was in an upwind or downwind
position. The actual location of any collector
was variable with respect to a fugitive dust source,
depending on how much of a sample catch is
needed. Sampling sites were worked in sequence,
to utilize limited meteorological stations.
The period of sampling varied, depending on
the amount of sample desired and proximity to a
source. The cascade samplers were used for dust
collection and size analysis during two separate
two-week test periods, since high-volume sam-
plers needed to be separated in the laboratory.
Records of mine and plant activity for each
sampling site were kept by the field crew. In par-
ticular, mining activities, blasting, haul-truck
operations, crushing, and shale transfer operations
were logged, since all of these activities are inter-
mittent or variable. These records were coordi-
nated with the high-volume unit records.
The values determined for each upwind sampler
were used as a baseline to determine the relative
increase of particulates from a source as measured
by corresponding downwind samplers. The ad-
justed measurements from the nearest and the
farthest downwind samplers were extrapolated
to estimate the possible source emission levels.
The extrapolation was only a rough estimate, be-
cause modeling of particulates exceeded the
scope of work.
At present, all data have been collected, sam-
ple analyses are being run, and data are being
interpreted. A final report on data monitoring is
expected in March 1978.
Vegetative Stabilization of (TOSCO and USBM)
Spent Oil Shales
Colorado State University is working under
grant to IERL-CIN to investigate surface stability
and salt movement in spent oil shales and soil-
covered spent shales after a cover of native veg-
etation has been established by intensive treatments
and then left under natural precipitation conditions.
Observations on vegetation, moisture, salinity,
runoff, and sediment yields were conducted from
1974 to 1978, with work expected to continue
through July 1980.
The study is being performed on two different
spent oil shales - course-textured (USBM) and fine-
textured (TOSCO). Various soil treatment tests
were conducted to study plant establishment on:
(1) leached and fertilized soil over unleached
spent shale; (2) six inches of soil over leached
spent shale; (3) one foot of soil over unleached
spent shale, and (4) soil.
A good cover of native species was established
on all plots by leaching, fertilization, seeding,
mulching, and irrigation. The plots, which have
not been irrigated since they were established,
now support an adequate cover of vegetation
dominated by perennial grasses with the exception
of low-elevation TOSCO plots which are dominated
by a mixture of annuals and perennial grasses.
Water applied during leaching and establish-
ment was being used by plants during their third
10
-------
growing season. Resalinization occurred follow-
ing leaching of the fine-textured TOSCO spent
shale and salt moved up into six inches of soil cover
over leached TOSCO spent shale. The USBM spent
shale was resalinized at the high-elevation site
following inadequate leaching, but was not re-
salinized at the low-elevation site. The 12 inches
of soil cover over the unleached spent shale was
not salinized at either study site.
The greatest runoff was from the TOSCO spent
shale. Runoff was moderately to highly saline.
The sodium adsorption ratio was low for all run-
off. Sediment yields were very low reflecting the
use of mulch and establishment of adequate plant
cover.
Work to be accomplished for the 1977 to 1978
year includes: moisture readings of plots; collection
and summarization of data taken during the
summer of 1977; general observations and col-
lection of runoff and sediment samples; soil
moisture measurements and maintenance of
meteorological equipment; vegetation analysis
of species and ground cover, and the analysis of
data in a written report. The 1977 to 1978 work
will be of particular interest because the data
will show information on the oil shale plots as
influenced by the severe drought that has pre-
vailed in western Colorado.
Vegetative Stabilization of Paraho Spent Oil
Shale
Colorado State University is working under
grant to IERL-CIN to study surface stability and
water movement in and through Paraho spent
shale and soil-covered Paraho spent shale. In
addition, the distribution of water and salts in
the plots will be monitored with the objective of
quantifying the potential salt pollution from shale
residues. These data will be used to develop and
verify a mathematical model of salt and water
transport, and to estimate the long-term water
quality and quantity aspects of large scale dis-
posals of spent shale residues.
This study attempts to duplicate, on a small
scale, what might be disposal schemes for Paraho
spent shale. This project involves the compaction
of a 3-foot layer of Paraho spent shale over a re-
inforced concrete pad (132 feet long, 44 feet wide,
six inches thick, and coated with an inert sealant).
A 4-inch thick layer of gravel is placed immediately
over the concrete pad. This allows collection of
water which may percolate through the compacted
spent shale. Figure 4 shows an experimentation
plot.
A layer of uncompacted spent shale (varying
in depth from 3 to 5 feet) is placed on top of the
compacted shale (96 to 100 lbs/ft3). The uncom-
pacted shale then is covered with either 8,16 or 24
inches of soil.
Two separate concrete pad units with the above
treatments have been constructed on Bureau of
Land Management property just below the housing
area of DOE's Anvil Points Oil Shale Research
Facility. One unit is used to simulate a low-ele-
vation spent shale disposal site, while the other
is used to simulate a higher elevation site receiving
more precipitation. Since the actual study site is
located in the low-elevation zone, the high-elevation
disposal zone is being simulated with irrigation.
The low-elevation unit was irrigated
the first growing season to establish the vegetation;
in later years it will be left under natural precip-
itation. The high-elevation unit requires yearly
irrigation, the schedule is made up to simulate a
a disposal site at 8,000 feet with 20 inches of
average annual precipitation.
To develop the hydrological model phase of
this study, drains were installed in the surface of
the concrete pad and at the interface between
the compacted and uncompacted zones. The
purpose of the drains is to collect the water and
salts percolating through the zones. In addition
to collecting the percolate, the surface runoff
from each treatment has been collected.
Data collection and monitoring are continuing.
Term of this contract is continuing from July 1975
to July 1978.
3.2 PROCESSING
Two projects, within the processing program,
are being conducted by TRW, Inc., and the Denver
11
-------
¦»$»»»« M,'"s
Photo courtesyolWilliam N McCarthy, Jr
Figure 4.
SHALE DISPOSAL TRANSPORT AND EFFECT EXPERIMENTATION PLOTS, ANVIL POINTS, COLORADO.
Left Center: Water collection reservoirs. Center: Plots showing the variation in vegetation due to differ-
ent depths of soil cover and aspects.
12
-------
Research Institute (DRI). TRW/DRI are collecting
background data on shale recovery processes
and reserves, and are conducting a comparative
assessment of their environmental acceptability
via the control of air, water, and solid waste
emissions. One other project being conducted
by Cameron Engineers, Inc., Denver, Colorado,
provides program support in synthetic fuels
development to OEMI.
Environmental Impact of Oil Shale Development
TRW/DRI are working under contract to IERL-
CIN to study the environmental impact of oil shale
development. This three-year project, scheduled
to end in May 1978, includes the acquisition of
the necessary background data on the principal
industrial shale recovery processes and U.S. shale
resources, a comparative assessment of their
environmental acceptability, and an evaluation
of technologies available for the control of air,
water, and solid waste emissions.
Work under this contract was divided into six
tasks: (1) project management; (2) oil shale and
recovery process characterization; (3) engineering
analysis and problem definition; (4) field testing
and laboratory analysis; (5) environmental eval-
uation, and (6) evaluation of existing environmental
control technology. This project has provided a
a basis for establishing rational design, management,
and monitoring procedures to mitigate unavoid-
able adverse environmental impacts prior to
development of a full-scale oil shale industry.
During the period beginning June 1975 and
ending August 1977, 20 reports were prepared
under this contract. These reports are listed in
Appendices D and E.
To date, the only report which has been released
for publication under this contract is; "A Preliminary
Assessment of the Environmental Impacts from
Oil Shale Developments," EPA-600/7-77-069,) uly
1977. The report summarizes the status of oil shale
technologies and development activities, the nature
and sources of pollution from oil shale develop-
ment and their potential impacts on the physical
environment. This information has been collected
from related ongoing industrial and government
activities to provide a consolidated data source
for planners and researchers concerned with oil
shale development, to identify data and research
gaps so that priorities for subsequent efforts in
this area can be defined, and to establish the base-
line material from which future environmental
assessments can be made and related pollution
control methods can be developed. The other
reports are expected to be released in late 1978.
Sampling and Analysis of the Paraho Surface Retort
A sampling and analysis research program at
the Paraho oil shale retorting demonstration site
at Anvil Points, Colorado, is being conducted by
TRW/DRI in conjunction with DOE's Laramie Energy
Research Center (LERC), Development Engineering,.
Inc., Grand Junction, Colorado, and EPA's IERL-CIN.
The overall objective of the test program is to
obtain quantitative and qualitative measurements
of air, water, and solid compositions, and to gain
experience that will lead to improved sampling
procedures and the determination of priorities
for sampling and analysis of oil shale recovery
operations. In addition to preliminary sampling
and analysis which has recently been completed,
a more extensive program is planned to follow
in 1978.
The Paraho demonstration site is presently the
only surface retorting operation on-going within
the U.S. Figure 5 shows the Paraho plant at Anvil
Points. The existing Anvil Points facility includes
two vertical retorts; a larger semi-works unit in
which a portion of the off-gas was recycled and
heated externally to supply heat to the retort and a
smaller pilot plant in which air was introduced
with recycle gas to support combustion of carbon
on retorted shale as a source of process heat. The
test plan included both retorts, as their process
streams are different. Selection of sample locations
was based on a need for information on process
streams relative to emissions and effluents ex-
pected in a full-scale plant.
Samples taken included the recycle gases,
recycle condensate, product oil/water, processed
shale discharged from the retorts, and dust in the
vicinity of crushing, screening, and conveying
equipment. A variety of analytical methods was
13
-------
Photo courtesy of Terry Thoem
Figure 5.
PARAHO SURFACE RETORT, ANVIL POINTS, COLORADO
14
-------
used, including wet chemical analysis, spark-
source mass spectrometry, high-pressure liquid
chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, gel
permeation chromatography, and gas chroma-
tography/mass spectrometry methods.
Condensate water inorganic analyses were done
for calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium
salts, ammonia, gross parameters, and trace
elements. Condensate and product water samples
were also analyzed for organic neutrals, organic
acids, and organic bases. Elemental determinations
of both retorted shale and raw shale particulates
were made.
This project is being conducted as part of the
environmental impact of oil shale development
program previously discussed. Term of the con-
tract is from 1975 to 1978.
Program Support in Environmental Assessment and
Control Technology Development for Advanced
Fossil Fuels
Cameron Engineers, Inc., Denver, Colorado, is
providing technical and administrative assistance
to EPA/OEMl to support its responsibilities as
lead agency for environmental research on energy
processes. In particular, Cameron Engineers is
working on environmental assessment and control
technology development for advanced fossil fuels
conversion techniques, including high and low-
Btu coal gasification, coal liquefaction, residual
oil gasification, and oil shale retorting. Specific
objectives include maintaining and updating
documents on environmental problems and R&D
programs, producing and maintaining a system
for describing R&D options and setting priorities
among the options, providing administrative and
technical support for short term assignments,
such as reporting on professional meetings, and
consultation on specific technical problems.
Term of the contract is from October 1976 to
October 1978.
3.3 ENERGY-RELATED PROCESSES AND EFFECTS
The energy-related processes and effects program
is designed to identify and assess the environmental
effects of each stage of an energy source's fuel
cycle. The program is subdivided into four major
areas: ecological effects; environmental transport
processes; measurement and monitoring, and
health effects. Current oil shale R&D activities
for each of these areas are presented in the fol-
lowing sections.
3.3.1 Ecological Effects
Toxic Effects on the Aquatic Biota from Coal and
Oil Shale Development
The Environmental Research Laboratory in
Duluth (ERL-Duluth), is providing predictive in-
formation with regard to potential toxicants to
the aquatic environment resulting from coal and
oil shale extraction and conversion. Current work
involves bioassays of retort process waters from
the Paraho project, and chemical and analytical
studies of water in the Piceance Creek basin. Term
of the contract is from 1975 to 1978.
3.3.2 Environmental Transport Processes
The Mineralogy of Overburden as Related to
Groundwater Chemical Changes in Strip Mining
of Coal, In Situ Coal Gasification, and Oil Shale
Retorting
In the course of this study, overburden cores
and groundwater samples, will be chemically
and physically characterized. It is anticipated
that this effort will generate scientific information,
predictable in nature, which can be extrapolated to
other areas of mining activity. The overall objective
of this research is to provide regulatory agencies
and the mining community with a method to pre-
dict groundwater changes resulting from coal
strip mining, in situ coal gasification, and oil shale
retorting. This is a four-year effort, in which the
third year will concentrate on oil shale, with a
report expected in 1979. The EPA Robert S. Kerr
Environmental Research Laboratory in Ada,
Oklahoma is conducting this project. Term of
the project is from 1975 to 1979.
3.3.3 Measurement and Monitoring
Projects under the measurement and monitoring
program deal with air, surface, and groundwater
15
-------
monitoring and methodology development, in-
strumentation development, and identification
of wastes and effluents. Work is being conducted
by EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Support
Laboratory in Las Vegas (EMSL-LV), the Region
V.lll office in Denver, the Environmental Research
Laboratory in Athens (ERL-Athens), USGS, DOE,
and NBS.
3.3.3.1 Air Monitoring
Oil Shale Area Meteorological Data Analysis
CDM Limnetics, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, has
purchased upper air meteorological data from
the National Climatic Center in Asheville, North
Carolina, for the National Weather Station at Grand
Junction, Colorado. The temperature, wind speed,
and wind direction data collected at Grand Junction,
Colorado has been compared with like data ob-
tained near the Colorado Federal oil shale lease
tracts. A determination of the representativeness
of obtaining upper air data for 15 days in the
central portion of each quarter has been made.
A report providing this low level radiosonde
monitoring data comparison has been released.
This project was sponsored by EPA, Region VIII,
Denver, Colorado. The project was completed.
Air Quality and Surface Wind Monitoring in
Colorado
The Colorado Department of Health is under
contract to EPA Region VIII to install and operate
air monitoring sites in selected areas of western
Colorado to collect baseline data prior to major
expansion of energy activities. Particulate samples
from the energy area are analyzed for nitrate and
sulfate content. EPA Region VIII is administering
this project with OEMI funds. Term of the contract
is from 1975 to 1977.
Upper Air Meteorological Data Collection
Aeromet, Inc., Norman, Oklahoma, has collected
upper air data at tracts C-b and Ua/Ub from June 1,
1976 through October 30, 1977. Temperature,
wind speed, and direction versus altitude were
measured via pilot balloons and temperature
sondes. Temperature and wind data were used
to generate stability-wind rise data on a seasonal,
annual, and monthly basis. These data also pro-
vided mixing height data. EPA Region VIII is
administering this project with OEMI funding.
Term of the contract is from 1976 to 1978.
3.3.3.2 Groundwater Monitoring Methodology
Development
Monitoring the Impact of Western Coal Strip
Mining and Oil Shale Extraction on Groundwater
Quality
General Electric - TEMPO, Santa Barbara,
California, in conjunction with the University of
Arizona, Department of Hydrology, is studying
the effects of the oil shale extraction and processing
operations on groundwater quality in the vicinity
of the Uinta basin of northeastern Utah, through
a carefully designed and systematically executed
monitoring program. The monitoring program
design is based on the identification of existing
program deficiencies and/or the inventory of
potential sources and causes of groundwater pol-
lution. A final report will be prepared on the
results of the research and monitoring effort and
will serve as a guide in the design and operation
of groundwater quality programs for other mining
locations. This project is being sponsored through
EPA's EMSL-LV. Term of the contract is from
September 1976 to September 1981.
Energy-Related Water Monitoring Data Integration
EPA's EMSL-LV is establishing a water monitoring
network throughout the western U.S. to monitor
and assess the impact of energy resource develop-
ment. Through the use of computer data banks,
water monitoring stations that are currently in
operation, and those prior to 1970 which have
reported a large number of measured parameters
were selected for incorporation into a primary
monitoring network. Parameters of interest were
identified and a quality assurance program is being
established in participating laboratories. Data
from the primary network stations are being
augmented with data from other stations. An assess-
ment of baseline water quality, trends, and impacts
on a basin-by-basin basis is underway. As data gaps
16
-------
are identified, actions will be taken to correct
them. The primary net will be updated periodically
and extended into areas not presently addressed.
Term of the contract is from 1975 to 1980.
3.3.3.3 Water Monitoring
Water Quality and Geochemistry of Shallow
Aquifers of Piceance Creek, Colorado
The USGS, Lakewood, Colorado, is collecting
detailed chemical analyses of the relatively
shallow groundwaters that may be affected by
mining oil shale and associated minerals, prin-
cipally in the Piceance and Yellow Creek basins
of Colorado. The study serves to support a portion
of an initial effort to improve predictive geohy-
drologic and chemical models that may better
evaluate the impact of oil shale mining on the
hydrologic regime of the Piceance Creek basin.
The total effort is designed to develop the data
base and analytical capability required to make
evaluations. The existing state of chemical equi-
librium will be documented and water quality
will be studied to predict effects of dewatering
on water chemistry.
Chemical analyses of water from 10 wells and
48 springs were analyzed and are being used to
identify the source and distribution of major and
minor ionic species in the Green River Formation.
Data are being compiled and analyzed for use in
constructing a profile-oriented solute transport
model. This project is sponsored by USGS with
pass-through funds from EPA. Term of the project
is from 1975 to 1980.
Water Quality Monitoring on White River, Para-
chute Creek and Logan Wash in Oil Shale Areas
of Western Colorado
The USGS, Lakewood, Colorado, is collecting
detailed water quality data from selected surface
waters in the areas of western Colorado likely to
be affected by oil shale development. The study
has initiated several new water quality monitoring
stations and supplements the parameter coverage
at several existing baseline water quality conditions
in the oil shale areas so that possible future effects
of oil shale development can be evaluated.
There are two existing USGS monitoring stations
located upstream and downstream from the
Federal oil shale leases on the White River; these
stations will be supplemented for additional
parameter coverage. The Parachute Creek station,
established between two different oil shale projects
and upstream from major irrigation diversions,
will provide baseline water quality data and
monitor future impacts from oil shale develop-
ment. The station at Logan Wash will provide
baseline data for evaluating the water quality
impacts of in situ oil shale development in that
specific drainage. Stream flow water quality
monitoring equipment has been acquired for the
Parachute Creek and Logan Wash stations. This
project is performed by USGS with pass-through
funds from EPA. Term of the contract is from
April 1975 to October 1980.
Collection of Geochemical Data in the Piceance
Creek Structural Basin of Colorado
The USGS, Lakewood, Colorado, is monitoring
the collection and analysis of geochemical data
on the relatively shallow groundwaters that may
be impacted by the extraction of oil shale in the
Piceance and Yellow Creek basins of Colorado.
Water samples are collected from approximately
12 wells and many springs. Chemical analyses
for approximately 30 parameters are being col-
lected on selected samples. Data will be used to
refine predictive models of resultant water quality
both for those waters encountered by mining
operations and waters centering surface drainages
and springs and seeps. USGS is being funded by
EPA pass-through funds. Term of the contract is
from 1976 to 1978.
Potentiometric Surface of Shallow Aquifers in
Piceance Creek Structural Basin
The USGS, Lakewood, Colorado, is developing
a calibrated digital model to predict the effect
of oil shale development on the hydrologic system.
This development will be accomplished through
the drilling and completion of test wells. The
data will be used to improve the calibration of
an existing digital model of the system. Progress
has included the preparation of drilling specifi-
cations, a contract award, and the successful
17
-------
completion of 22 observation wells. The total
footage drilled was 25,092. Water temperature
and specific conductance data, water samples
for chemical analysis, and discharge rate measure-
ments were obtained from each well. A basic data
report will be prepared which will summarize
the data collected during drilling of the obser-
vation wells. USGS received EPA pass-through
funds on this project. Term of this contract is
from 1975 to 1978.
3.3.3.4 Instrumentation Development
Instrumentation and Methods for Characterizing
Aqueous Effluents from Oil Shale
DOE is studying the feasibility of large scale
oil shale processing in the Green River Form-
ation. Plans include surveillance of related ef-
fluents. This project focuses on the development
of methods for the chemical characterization of
aqueous effluents associated with the retorting
processes. Attention is being given principally to
organic and trace metal components. Organic
components are being analyzed by several methods
under development. Major organic components
are analyzed directly by gas chromatography
with no sample pretreatment. Minor and trace
organic components are removed from the samples
by adsorption on activated carbon, neutral macro-
reticular resins, and ion exchange resins. The
components are profiled by gas chromatographic
methods employing standard and specific element
detectors. Fractionation of the organic mixture
is followed by identification and quantification
of some nitrogenous bases. Trace metals will be
determined simultaneously by spark source mass
spectrometry. This project is being conducted by
DOE with EPA pass-through funds. Term of the
contract is from 1976 and is continuing.
3.3.3.5 Monitoring Methods for Characterizing
Water Pollutants
Identification of Components of Energy-Related
Wastes and Effluents
Culf South Research Institute, New Orleans,
Louisiana, is working to identify substances in
wastes and effluents from energy-related pro-
cesses. Information developed from this program
will assist researchers who are concerned with
control technology, monitoring techniques, and
the health and ecological effects of such energy-
related pollution.
The proposed work is divided into three phases.
Phase A consists of a state-of-the-art summary and
work planning which constitutes contacting EPA
personnel to determine which energy-related
solid waste and aqueous effluents have been
analyzed for the purpose of identifying and meas-
uring pollutants and which current contracts and
projects will provide further identification . It will
also consist of judging the reliability of existing
information and the probability of accumulation
of adequate data from current contracts and
projects using pre-selected criteria. This information
will be collated and summarized in a report for
EPA. The report will identify the gaps in existing
and probable future data on chemical elements
and volatile organic compounds in solid wastes
and aqueous effluents from coal mines, oil refin-
eries, oil shale processors, coal-fired power plants,
coal liquefaction and coal gasification plants.
Phase B consists of selecting sampling sites
based on the recommendations from the report
prepared in Phase A. The specific aims of Phase
C consists of: (1) development and setup of ana-
lytical protocol; (2) qualitative and quantitative
analyses for elements and organics in aqueous
and solid wastes from the selected energy-related
processes, and (3) the interpretation and collation
of data obtained. Work is being sponsored by EPA
ERL-Athens, Georgia. Term of the contract is from
September 1976 to September 1979.
3.3.3.6 Development of Techniques for Measure-
ment of Organic Water Pollution
Quality Assurance and Instrumentation in Air and
Water Pollution Mining
In cooperation with the EPA and other govern-
ment agencies, the NBS is developing methodology
and standard materials for measuring the environ-
mental effects resulting from increased energy
production. The NBS Analytical Chemistry Division
is initiating research and development in the areas
18
-------
of reference materials, instrumentation, and
methods required for monitoring air and water
quality associated with energy production. The
research and development leading to Standard
Reference Materials (SRM) instrumentation and
methods are urgently needed for the monitoring
of air and water quality associated with increased
energy development of many different types. Due
to the current and future energy problems facing
the U.S., it has become imperative for the rapid
development of the internal energy capabilities
of this country. In order to maintain an acceptable
level of environmental pollution, the methods
devised for increased utilization of these internal
energy sources .(e.g. petroleum, coal, uranium,
geothermal) must be adequately evaluated and
monitored for effects on air and water pollution.
In order to effectively carry out its responsibilities
in these areas, the EPA has requested the assistance
of the NBS Analytical Chemistry Division for
research and development of SRM's.
The overall approach to be taken involves three
basic steps. First, in areas of well-defined pollution
effects, the emphasis will be on the development
and certification of SRM's to enable effective
quantitation. Examples of such well defined
pollution effects include gases in air pollution
(e.g., sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide) and trace
metals in water pollution (e. g., mercury, arsenic,
lead). Second, in areas of known effects but
imperfect measurement methodology, research
and development on analytical methods and
instrumentation will be undertaken. Examples
of these areas include particulates and trace
organics in air and water pollution. Third, in areas
of new or increased energy production techniques
(i.e., coal gasification and liquefaction, uranium
production, etc.), a series of work-shops will be
held to help define the current state-of-the-art,
and future requirements for analytical reference
materials and methodology for air and water
pollution measurements. Term of the contract is
from 1975 to 1979.
3.3.3.7 Development of Ambient Monitoring
Guidelines
Energy-Related Western/Southwestern Regional
Air Monitoring
EPA's EMSL-LV is providing integrated and
validated air quality monitoring data (baseline
and trend) and assessment reports for western
areas of the U.S. which will be most seriously
affected by energy-related development activities.
Emphasis is on fine particulates, nitrogen oxides,
sulfur oxides, reactive hydrocarbons, toxic sub-
stances, and visibility. The geographical coverage
includes the Northern Great Plains, the Four Corners
area, oil shale areas of Colorado and Utah, and
the Black Mesa areas of Arizona and New Mexico.
Term of the contract is from 1975 to 1980.
3.3.4 Health Effects
EPA's Health Effects Research Laboratory,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (HERL-
RTP), and the Environmental Research Laboratory
in Gulf Breeze, Florida (ERL-Gulf Breeze), are
conducting projects which deal with the effects
of air and water pollutants associated with alter-
native forms of energy development on human
health and on aquatic ecosystems.
Laboratory testing is being performed by both
in vivo (whole animal) and in vitro (test tube)
methods to identify and control hazardous agents.
These projects are being conducted by Ball State
University, Muncie, Indiana, Northrop Services,
Huntsville, Alabama, and by UCLA. In addition,
pass-through funds have been given to NIOSH,
and DOE's Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL)
in Livermore, California, the Los Alamos Scientific
Laboratory (LASL) in Los Alamos, New Mexico,
and to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL),
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
These projects are in general related to oil shale
in that they are multi-technology oriented. The
resources associated with them are not exclusively
related to oil shale.
3.3.4.1 General Supportive Studies
Establishment of a Chemical Repository for
Alternate Energy Source Material for Toxicity
Testing
ORNL, under the sponsorship of EPA's HERL-
RTP, will provide a repository where materials
19
-------
from new energy sources can be received, iden-
tified, divided into replicate specimens for testing,
and forwarded to participating laboratories for
testing with sufficient material being held under
appropriate methods of storage for future reference.
Materials handled include products and com-
bustion effluents from coal gasification and
liquefaction, and shale oil extraction. The project
duration is from October 1975 to 1978.
3.3.4.2 Pollutant Analysis Studies
Air, Water, and Multi-Route and Health Effects
From Pollutants Associated with Energy Develop-
ment
EPA's HERL-RTP is assessing the health effects
of exposures to substances which pollute air and
water as a result of energy technologies. Emphasis is
being placed on potentially toxic agents result-
ing from fuel extraction, conversion and combus-
tion. The evaluation of the toxicity of the pollutants
and their metabolic products include a spectrum
of bioeffect indices.
The present program includes: (1) the assessment
of exposure to toxic organic chemicals which are
associated with energy processes and which are
waterborne. The investigations include screening
for potential carcinogens, mutagens, and teratogens
in water supplies, as they result from energy
sources emphasizing coal and shale oil processing,
and (2) toxicologic data obtained for multi-route
exposure? from metal pollutants resulting from
fossil fuel extraction, combustion, and conservation.
Studies also include establishing additional
physiological and biochemical indicators to
establish a more sensitive dose; data base studies
of age sensitivity and influence of dietary com-
position on adsorption, deposition, and toxicity
of the trace elements which pollute the environment
from energy-related sources; long-term effects
of inhalation exposures to toxic components of
fly ash, and biochemical effects of energy-related
trace metals on pulmonary macromolecular
metabolism. The project duration is from October
1976 to October 1977.
Air, Water, and Multi-Route Exposures and Their
Effects: Pollutants Associated with Energy Devel-
opment
EPA's ERL-Gulf Breeze, is studying the constit-
uents of and compounds derived from petroleum
hydrocarbons which may accumulate in portions
of the marine food chain consumed by man. The
objective of this research is to provide an assessment
of the potential for accumulation of specific
carcinogens found in fractions of shale oil. Term
of this project is from October 1977 to October
1978.
3.3.4.3 In Vivo (Whole Animal) Studies
Effect of Alternate Energy Source Material on Whole
Animal Carcinogenesis by Percutaneous Application
of Extracts and Fractions to Mice
DOE's ORNL constitutes the lead laboratory
for carcinogenesis for the EPA studies of the toxic
effects of products and effluents from alternative
energy sources. Materials for study are derived
through the chemical repository established at
ORNL. Materials received are subjected to pre-
liminary toxicity testing and fractionation followed
by cancer screening by standard methods, inclu-
ding skin painting and injection. Data from this
contract will be used to evaluate data from other
methods such as bacterial mutagenesis, neoplastic
transformation, intratracheal instillation, etc., to
arrive at a comprehensive view of the relative
value of various methods in dealing with a prac-
ticable evaluation of the carcinogenic potential
of crude material. This project is under the spon-
sorship of EPA's HERL-RTP and IERL-RTP, with
funding passed-through to DOE. Project duration
is from September 1976 to September 1978.
Morphological Variants in Damaged Sperm
LLL, under sponsorship to DOE is conducting
this project. Ionizing radiation as well as various
mutagens, carcinogens, and teratogens are known
to induce elevated levels of morphologically
abnormal sperm in mice. The objectives of this
study are: (1) to develop further and apply the
detection of morphologically abnormal mouse
sperm as a rapid, simple, quantitative assay of
20
-------
the pathology response of the male gonad to toxic
agents; (2) to extend the studies in the mouse to
the hamster, and (3) to develop the methodology
of automated scoring of abnormally shaped sperm,
especially after the exposure of the male to toxic
agents. Of special interest are possible effects of
the chemical pollutants associated with the
recovery, process stream, and emission of non-
nuclear sources of energy, especially coal gas-
ification and oil shale extraction in situ.
To accomplish these objectives, groups of test
mice have received subacute or chronic exposures
by injection, inhalation, or dermal application.
The percent of abnormally shaped epididymal
sperm will be determined as a function of dosage
and time after exposure. These results will be
compared to those obtained by more conventional
mutagens, carcinogens, and teratogens. Preliminary
studies with the hamster and mouse have shown
that these two species are qualitatively similar in
response. Furthermore, an attempt is being made
to distinguish sperm morphology in these species
based on suggested differences in fluorescent dye
uptake. These results may well lead to automated
analyses of sperm morphology. Project duration
is from June1975 to June1980.
Detection of Early Changes in Lung Cell Cytology
by Flow Systems Analysis Techniques
LASL is studying the application of modern auto-
mated cytology techniques for assessing damage to
humans resulting from exposure to physical and
chemical agents associated with oil shale and coal
extraction, conversion, and utilization. The approach
is to apply unique flow-system cell-analysis and
sorting technologies developed at LASL to determine
cytological and biochemical indicators of early
atypical changes in exposed lung epithelium using
the Syrian hamster initially as a model test system.
Current plans are to adapt cell preparation and
staining methods developed for flow systems to
characterize lung cells from normal and exposed
hamsters using the multiparameter cell separator
and multiangle light-scatter systems. This includes
acquisition of respiratory cells by lavaging the
lungs with saline, adapting cytological techniques
developed on human gynecological specimens
to hamster lung epithelium for obtaining single-
cell suspensions, utilization of existing staining
techniques for measurement of cellular bio-
chemical properties, and initial characterization
of lung cells using flow analysis instrumentation.
LASL has achieved some progress in measuring
DNA content, total protein, esterase activity, cell
size, nuclear and cytoplasmic diameters, and
multiangle light-scatter properties of exfoliated
hamster lung cell samples composed of macro-
phages, leukocytes, epithelial, and columnar cells.
As this new technology is adapted further to
analyze lung cells from hamsters and subsequent
characterization studies are completed, measure-
ment of changes in physical and biochemical cell
properties as a function of exposure to toxic
agents associated with synthetic fuels energy
production will be performed, with eventual
examination of sputum samples from occupational-
ly exposed humans. This project is being sponsored
by DOE with EPA pass-through funds. Term of
this project is from 1976 and is continuing.
Mortality, Morbidity, and Industrial Hygiene
Study of Oil Shale Workers
NIOSH is studying 320 men who have worked
in pilot oil shale operations. The men are divided
into three groups consisting of workers from: (1)
the U.S. Bureau of Mines; (2) the Joint Venture of
the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute,
Anvil Points, Colorado, and (3) the Union Oil Retort
facility in Grand Valley, Colorado.
A retrospective mortality study of approximately
60 men will be done in-house while a cross-sectional
morbidity examination to evaluate several morbidity
aspects that may be associated with oil shale
occupations will be done by contract. Mortality
due to 21 specific causes of death will be deter-
mined after an extensive follow-up effort and the
death certificates of those who have died will be
examined. The various causes of death will be exam-
ined to determine if an excessive number of deaths
were due to a particular cause. Numerous indices of
health regarding the living men will be assessed
through physical examinations and health ques-
tionnaires. NIOSH has contacted various people
knowledgeable in oil shale technology, as well
21
-------
as others who are or have been involved in health
studies related to oil shale mining and retorting.
Recently, an additional contract was signed by
NIOSH with Utah Biomedical Testing Laboratory,
Salt Lake City, to conduct testing on cancer of
the bladder and respiratory system. NIOSH's efforts
are supported by EPA pass-through funds. Term
of the contract is from November 1976 to November
1978.
Determination of the Influence of Mineral Cofactors
in Conjunction with Carcinogens from Energy-
Related Materials
Northrop Services, Huntsville, Alabama, is under
contract to the EPA's HERL-RTP to determine the
influence of environmental materials such as fibrous
amphiboles, fine particles, etc., as cofactors with
carcinogenic influences from alternative energy
sources such as coal gasification and liquefaction,
and shale oil products and effluents. Intratracheal
instillation and intrapleural innoculation would
be used and the end points would be formation
of cancer in the lung or pleura or development
of precancerous lesions compared to appropriate
controls. The duration of this project is from
December 1975 to August 1978.
In Vivo Screening for Gene Mutation in Mouse
Germ and Somatic Cells
DOE's ORNL is conducting this study with EPA
pass-through funds. In screening for mutagenic
agents it is important to include mammalian tests
for gene mutations. In this project, identification
of mutagens associated with coal and oil shale
technologies that can induce gene mutations and
small deficiencies will be accomplished by scoring
for: (1) transmitted specific-locus mutations
induced in germ cells, and (2) somatic mutations
in coat color genes.
The specific-locus method developed has been
used extensively in radiation work and has already
proved its usefulness in chemical mutagenesis
studies. It is the only established, reliable, and
definitive test for transmitted gene mutations and
small deficiencies currently available in mammals.
To make the method economically efficient for
screening purposes, it will be used to test whether
there is anything mutagenic in a whole mixture of
compounds, for example, in an effluent. One
mixture from a coal conversion process that has
just become available after studies with non-
mammalian systems is now being used in prelim-
inary toxicity tests. An in vivo somatic-mutation
method, developed in an earlier X-ray experiment,
has now been explored for its usefulness in the
prescreening for germinal point mutations induced
by chemicals. In an array of seven compounds
tested, parallelism with spermatogonia! specific-
locus mutation rates was found, indicating that
the in vivo somatic-mutation test may detect point
mutations in addition to other types of genetic
changes that lead to expression of the recessive.
The method is now being used to test fractions
from coal conversion processes. Term of this
contract is from 1976 and is continuing.
3.3.4.4 In Vitro Studies
Determination of the Effects of Material from
Alternate Energy Sources on Upper Respiratory
Tract Clearance Mechanisms
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, under
sponsorship to EPA's HERL-RTP, is screening a
variety of substances for their toxic effect on
mucociliary activity using an in vitro model system.
Since cilia play a significant role in pulmonary
clearance, proper functioning is essential for
defense against various environmental insults.
However, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, nickel, and
cadmium have an adverse effect on this system.
Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to
determine if alternative energy sources such as
shale oil and coal gasification and liquefaction,
or particulate effluents from power stations,
stationary engines or mobile sources produce
pollutants toxic to the mucociliary escalator.
Consequently, isolated hamster tracheal rings
are exposed to pollutants in vitro. Parameters
measured are the: (1) effect on ciliary beat fre-
quency; (2) effect on the energy source (ATP) of
beating; (3) effect on ciliary and tracheal mor-
phology, and (4) recovery of the tracheal rings
after exposure. In all cases, parameters are tested
for dose-response effects. Project duration is from
October 1975 to May 1979.
22
-------
Quantitative Mutagenesis Testing in Mammalian
Cellular Systems
LLL is to develop and apply quantitative and
multiple-marker assays utilizing cultured mam-
malian cells to evaluate the potential mutagenic
effects of agents derived from energy technologies.
Additionally, LLL will use these existing and newly-
developed biological screening systems to identify
mutagenic agents associated with coal and oil
shale extraction, conversion, or utilization.
This program proposes the use of multiple drug-
resistance markers for forward mutation in cultured
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, as well as in
vitro and host-mediated in vivo/in vitro procedures
in the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) system. The
markers being developed measure the frequency
of forward mutation at the recessive azaadenine-
resistant marker, the X-linked azaguanine-resistant
phenotype, and the dominant ouabain-resistant
locus. Established procaryote and lower eucaryote
systems will be used for comparison and reference;
the most satisfactory markers in all systems will
then be combined into a standard protocol in
which each of the gene loci can be measured for
mutation following exposure to a particular test
agent or combination.
To date, both CHO and SHE systems have been
tested with the standard mutagen EMS, and
experiments using specific hydrocarbons relevant
to energy technology are now underway. This
project is being sponsored by DOE under pass-
through funds from EPA. Project duration is from
June 1975 to June 1980.
Development of Cytochemical Markers for Cell
Transformation and Carcinogenesis
LLL is developing rapid, sensitive, and economical
systems for the in vitro and cytological assay for
carcinogenic effects of substances involved in
the extraction, conversion, and utilization of non-
nuclear energy sources, with particular consideration
of in situ coal gasification, shale oil utilization,
coal burning power plants, and geothermal power
plants. The approach is based on the development
of cytochemical markers for cell transformation,
and on the ability to quantify such markers by
microfluorometry and by flow system analysis
and sorting.
There are two phases to this work: (1) the develop-
ment of appropriate test systems whose response
is defined by well characterized and representative
carcinogenic agents, and (2) the application of
such systems to substances released by energy
technologies, and including testing with whole
and fractionated samples of effluents. This project
is under the sponsorship of DOE with pass-through
funds from EPA. Project duration is from June
1975 to June 1980.
Somatic Cell Genetics
LASL sponsors a genetics program which is
isolating temperature sensitive mutants (variants)
of the mammalian cell for use in studying the
genetics of cell life-cycle traverse. In addition to
these mutants, several auxotrophic clones have
been isolated and a mutation system has been
developed for use in assessing the mutagenicity
of suspected carcinogens derived primarily from
coal gasification and oil shale extraction processes.
The Ames Salmonella/microsome test system will
serve as an ancilliary test for mutagenicity. The
mammalian cell forward and reverse mutation
system and the Ames bacterial test system cur-
rently are functional in this laboratory. Temperature-
sensitive life-cycle traverse mutants are being
analyzed to determine in what phase of the life-
cycle the ts phenotype is expressed using the LASL
flow microfluorometer. This project is sponsored
by DOE under pass-through funds from EPA. This
is a two-year program ending in 1977.
Analysis of the Effects of Energy-Related Toxic
Materials to Karyotype Stability in Mammalian
Cells
LASL is developing systems for the rapid detection
of karyotypic changes in mammalian cells as a
result of exposure to energy-related environmental
pollutants and to screen selected subjects utilizing
these systems. Flow microfluorometry (FMF) of
isolated, fluorescently stained chromosomes will
be used to identify chromosome aberrations,
and FMF of stained intact cells will be used to
detect mitotic nondisjunction. Cadmium will be
23
-------
used as the clastogenic agent in the development
of a test system. It has been demonstrated that
chromosome analysis can be accomplished by
flow systems in mammalian cells with relatively
simple karyotypes. Cadmium at low concentrations
is a potent clastogen. It induces primarily chroma-
tidtype aberrations.
LASL has also demonstrated that tolerance to
the damaging effects of cadmium can be induced
in fibroblast cells in culture by long-term exposure
of the cells to sublethal concentrations of cadmium.
Repeats of these experiments are planned on
human fibroblast and lymphocyte cells in vitro
and to extend these studies to other toxic agents
associated with alternative energy technologies.
This project is being sponsored by DOE with EPA
pass-through funds. Term of the contract is from
1976 and is continuing.
Effects of Agents Associated with Coal and Oil
Shale Extraction, Conversion or Utilization on
Cell-Cycle Kinetics and on Chromatin/Chromosome
Structure
LASL is providing a means for detecting and
monitoring damage to humans as a result of
exposure to various toxic chemical and physical
agents. To obtain an idea of the parameters to
be monitored in humans, it is first necessary to
establish the effects of agents on cells in simpler
model systems.
Earlier experience with drugs which act as
carcinogens and teratogens has convinced re-
searchers that changes in population cell-cycle
distribution and alterations in chromatin structure
may provide useful early indicators of sublethal
damage to cells exposed to hazardous agents.
Examination will be made of alterations in these
parameters following exposure to specific energy-
related toxic substances in currently available
tissue-culture systems which show promise as a
predictive indicator of response of humans. A
technique has been developed that allows prep-
aration of both cycling and noncycling cell pop-
ulations in tissue-culture, mimicking these classes
of somatic cells in humans. By combining auto-
radiography, cell number enumeration, and
flow micro-fluorometry, it will be possible to
obtain highly detailed information regarding the
cellular kinetics response of both arrested and
cycling populations to treatment with toxic agents.
Results obtained to date suggest that DNA-
interactive agents elicit different types of kinetics
responses in treated cells, indicating a degree of
specificity of interaction between various alkylating
and intercalating agents and the genome. This
project is sponsored by DOE with EPA pass-
through funds. Term of the contract is from 1976
and is continuing.
Development of Permanent Epithelial Cell Lines
DOE's ORNL is conducting this study with EPA
pass-through funds. Objectives are: (1) to develop
the means by which chemicals associated with
non-nuclear energy generation, especially agents
arising from coal and oil shale extraction, can be
screened for potential carcinogenic activity
reliably, quickly, and cheaply relative to current
animal exposure techniques, and (2) to utilize
appropriate cultured cells developed in (1) for
the study of hydrocarbon carcinogen metabolism
to active forms and the mechanism of chemical
carcinogenesis.
A research group with two discrete but closely
related approaches to these problems is being
developed. The approaches are: (1) cell biology -
the major focus here will be the development
of permanent cell lines of epithelial origin (human,
when possible and appropriate) which possess
the enzymetic equipment for carcinogen activation
and which are transformable with high frequency,
and (2) biochemistry - principal focus will be the
study of metabolism of polycyclic hydrocarbons
in various cell lines developed in approach (1),
to establish with certainty the "ultimate" carcin-
ogenic metabolite, using primarily high pressure
liquid chromatography techniques. Term of the
contract is from 1976 and is continuing.
Development of An In Vitro Assay for Co-Carcin-
ogenesis of Coal/Oil Shale Derivatives
The UCLA School of Medicine is developing
an in vitro assay capable of detecting the co-
carcinogenic potential (with X-rays) of materials
produced during coal and oil shale processing.
24
-------
Initially it was proposed to utilize mouse tissue
cultured cells and an already established trans-
formation assay. Initial experiments indicated
that rodent cells may process lesions induced by
alkylating agents different from human cells and
that their use as screening materials might be
misleading. This was shown by demonstrating
that a variety of DNA damaging agents yielded
significantly different effects on various cell lines
when measured by a variety of techniques.
It was hypothesized that a ventral difference
between the lines (rodent versus human) may be
the "activation of on-cogenesis" related to the
strand breakage induced, and because rodent
lines carry transforming virus materials of a com-
plete or incomplete nature, which is lacking in
most human target cells. This is being evaluated
through cell hybridization analysis using hybrids
made by sendaivirus fusion of cells lacking either:
(1) different DNA repair enzymes, or (2) (potential)
RNA viruses. This project is sponsored by DOE
with EPA pass-through funds. This contract began
in 1976 and is continuing
3.4 INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
Two projects are currently active under the
integrated assessment program. The USDA, working
with EPA pass-through funds, is studying the socio-
economic consequences of coal and oil shale
development and, the University of Oklahoma,
Norman, Oklahoma, is performing a technology
assessment of energy development in the western
U.S.
Integrated Asiessment: Socio-Economic Conse-
quences of Coal and Oil Shale Development
USDA's Economic Research Service, Washington,
D.C., is working to describe current resource use
in coal and oil shale extraction and to assess
agricultural economic implications, resource
competition, and use resulting from coal and oil
shale development. This work will also estimate
the impact of energy development in the Northern
Great Plains on employment, income, and pop-
ulation of rural communities and of local govern-
ment finances and services, including revenue
potential. Interrelationships of local government
expenditures to employment, population, income,
age structure, and other socio-economic variables
will be analyzed. The work will evaluate costs of
mined land reclamation and uses for land after
mining. Interregional economic implications and
tradeoffs for agricultural and rural areas resulting
from coal development will also be evaluated.
Included are effects of increased water demand
for coal development on agricultural industries,
environmental quality, and rural resource use.
This project is funded by EPA pass-through funds
to USDA. The duration of this project is from
March 1976 to June 1979.
Technology Assessment of Western Energy Resource
Development
The University of Oklahoma is under contract
to determine the effects of development of six
energy resources on the western U.S. The energy
resources under study are: coal, geothermal,
natural gas, oil, uranium, and oil shale. The study
comprises an eight-state area including: Arizona,
Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North and South
Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The results of the
assessment will be used by EPA in developing
pollution control policies and their associated
implementation strategies applicable to western
energy resource development.
Recently, the University of Oklahoma, in con-
junction with Radian Corporation of Austin, Texas,
released a four-volume report titled, "Energy
from the West: A Progress Report of a Technology
Assessment of Western Energy Resource Develop-
ment," EPA-600-/7-77-072. It is a progress report
of a three-year technology assessment of the
development of the six energy resources. More
reports are expected to be released. The contract
began in July 1975 and is scheduled for completion
in late 1978.
25
-------
Table 1
CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS SUMMARY
TITLH
PERFORMING
SPONSOR ORGANIZATION DURATION CONTACT
EXTRACTION AND HANDLING
Technologies for Controlling Adverse Effects of
Mining on Forest, Range and Related Freshwater
Ecosystems
Water Quality Hydrology Affected by Oil Shale
Development
Fugitive Dust from Oil Shale Extraction
Vegetative Stabilization of (TOSCO and USBM)
Spent Oil Shale
Vegetative Stabilization of Paraho Spent Oil Shale
E PA pass-
through to
USDA
IERL-CIN
IERL-CIN
IERL-CIN
IERL-CIN
USDA
4 years
Colorado State 5 years
University
TRW
8 months
Colorado State 6 years
University
Colorado State 3 years
University
R.Z. Callhan
(703)-235-1071
Eugene Harris
(513)^84-4417
Edward Bates
(513^684-4417
Eugene Harris
(513)-684-4417
Eugene Harris
(513H84-4417
PROCESSING
Environmental Impact of Oil Shale Development
Sampling and Analysis of the Paraho Surface Retort
Program Support in Environmental Assessment and
Control Technology Development for Advanced
Fossil Fuels
IERL-CIN TRW/DRI
IERL-CIN TRW/DRI
OEMI
Cameron
Engineers
2 years Thomas Powers
(513)-684-4402
3 years Thomas Powers
(513J-684-4402
2 years William N. McCarthy, Jr.
(202>755-2737
ENERCY-RELATED PROCESSES AND EFFECTS-
Ecological Effects
Toxic Effects on the Aquatic Biota from Coal and
Oil Shale Development
ERL-Duluth ERL-Duluth
3 years
Leonard Mueller
(218J-727-6692
ENERGY-RELATED PROCESSES AND EFFECTS-
Environmental Transport Studies
The Mineralogy of Overburden as Related to Groundwater Kerr-E RL
Chemical Changes in Strip Mining of Coal, In Situ Coal
Gasification, and Oil Shale Development
Kerr-ERL
4 years
Robert Newport
(405>332-8800
ENERGY-RELATED PROCESSES AND EFFECTS-
Measurement and Monitoring
Oil Shale Area Meteorological Data Analysis
Air Quality and Surface Wind Monitoring in Colorado
Upper Air Meteorological Data Collection
RegionVIII CDMLimnetics 16months TerryThoem
(303)-837-5914
Region VIII Colorado Dept. 2 years
of Health
RegionVIII Aeromet, Inc. 2years
27
TerryThoem
(303HJ37-5914
T erry Thoem
(303J-837-5914
-------
Table 1
CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS SUMMARY (Cont.)
TITLE
PERFORMING
SPONSOR ORGANIZATION DURATION CONTACT
Monitoring the Impact of Western Coal Strip Mining
and Oil Shale Extraction on Groundwater Quality
Energy-Related Water Monitoring Data Integration
Water Quality and Geochemistry of Shallow Aquifers
of Piceance Creek, Colorado
Water Quality Monitoring on White River, Parachute
Creek and Logan Wash in Oil Shale Areas in
Western Colorado
Collection of Geochemical Data in the Piceance
Creek Structural Basin of Colorado
Potentiometric Surface of Shallow Aquifers in
Piceance Creek Structural Basin
Instrumentation and Methods for Characterizing
Aqueous Effluents from Oil Shale
Identification of Components of Energy-Related
Wastes and Effluents
Quality Assurance and Instrumentation in Air and
Water Pollution Mining
Energy-Related Western/Southwestern Regional Air
Monitoring
EMSL-LV
EMSL-LV
EPA pass-
through to
uses
EPA pass-
through to
uses
EPA pass-
through to
uses
EPA pass-
through to
uses
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
ERL-Athens
EPA pass-
through to
NBS
EMSL-LV
General Electric 5 years
EMSL-LV
uses
uses
uses
uses
Oak Ridge
National
Laboratory
Gulf South
Research
Institute
NBS
EMSL-LV
5 years
5 years
5 years
2 years
3 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
Leslie McMillion
(702)-736-2969
Victor Lambou
{702)-736-2969
F A. Kilpatrick
(703H560-6846
F.A. Kilpatrick
(703)-860-6846
F.A. Kilpatrick
(703J-860-6846
Jack Weeks
(303)-234-5092
1976- Bruce Clark
continuing (202)-755-2673
Ann Alford
(4041-546-3186
Jerry McNesby
(301 >921-2446
David McNelis
(702J-736-2969
ENERGY-RELATED PROCESSES AND EFFECTS-
Health Effects
Establishment of a Chemical Repository for Alternate
Energy Source Material for Toxicity Testing
Air, Water, and Multi-Route and Health Effects
from Pollutants Associated with Energy Development
Air, Water, and Multi-Route Exposures and Their
Effects: Pollutants Associated with Energy
Development
Effect of Alternate Energy Source Material on Whole
Animal Carcinogenesis by Percutaneous Application
of Extracts and Fractions to Mice
Morphological Variants in Damaged Sperm
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
ERL-Gulf
Breeze
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
Oak Ridge
National
Laboratory
HERL-RTP HERL-RTP
ERL-Gulf
Breeze
Oak Ridge
National
Laboratory
Lawrence
Li verm ore
Laboratory
3 years
12 months
12 months
2 years
5 years
Dr. David Coffin
(919 >-549-8411
J.F. Stara
(513H>84-7401
Dr. Norman Richards
(904)-932-5311 -
Dr. David Coffin
(919>-549-8411
Dr. George Stapleton
(301 >-353-5468
28
-------
Table 1
CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS SUMMARY (Cont.)
TITLE
PERFORMING
SPONSOR ORGANIZATION DURATION CONTACT
Detection of Early Changes in Lung Cell Cytology by
Flow Systems Analysis Techniques
Mortality, Morbidity, and Industrial Hygiene
Study of Oil Shale Workers
Determination of the Influence of Mineral Cofactors
in Conjunction with Carcinogens from Energy-Related
Materials
In Vivo Screening for Cene Mutation in Mouse Germ
and Somatic Cells
Determination of the Effects of Material from
Alternate Energy Sources on Upper Respiratory
Tract Clearance Mechanisms
Quantitative Mutagenesis Testing in Mammalian
Cellular Systems
Development of Cytochemical Markers for Cell
Transformation and Carcinogenesis
Somatic Cell Cenetics
Analysis of the Effects of Energy-Related Materials
to Karotype Stability in Mammalian Cells
Effects of Agents Associated with Coal and Oil Shale
Extraction, Conversion, or Utilization on Cell Cycle
Kinetics and on Chromatin/Chromosome Structure
Development of Permanent Epithelial Cell Lines
Development of An In Vitro Assay for Co-careinogenesis
of Coal/Oil Shale Derivatives
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
NIOSH
HERL-RTP
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
HERL-RTP
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
EPA pass-
through
DOE
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
EPA pass-
through to
DOE
Los Alamos
Scientific
Laboratory
NIOSH
Northrop
Services
Oak Ridge
National
Laboratory
Ball State
University
Lawrence
Livermore
Laboratory
Lawrence
Livermore
Laboratory
Los Alamos
Scientific
Laboratory
Los Alamos
Scientific
Laboratory
Los Alamos
Scientific
Laboratory
Oak Ridge
National
Laboratory
UCLA School
of
Medicine
1976-
continuing
2 years
32 months
1976-
continuing
42 months
5 years
5 years
2 years
1976-
continuing
1976-
continuing
1976-
continuing
1976-
continuing
Dr. George Duda
(301 >353-5468
Dr. John Finklea
(301 >443-1530
Dr. David Coffin
(919>549-8411
Dr. George Stapleton
(301 >353-5468
Dr. Donald Gardner
(919)549-8411
Dr. George Stapleton
(301 >353-5468
Dr. George Duda
(301 >353-5037
Dr. Ceorge Duda
(301 >353-5037
Dr. George Duda
(301 >353-5037
Dr. Ceorge Stapleton
(301 >353-5468
Dr. George Duda
(301 >353-5037
Dr. George Stapleton
(301 >353-5468
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
Integrated Assessment: Socio-Economic Consequences
of Coal and Oil Shale Development
Technology Assessment of Western Energy Resource
Development
EPA pass-
through to
USDA
OEMI
USDA
University of
Oklahoma
39 months
3 years
John Schaub
(202M47-8104
Steve Plotkin
(202>755-0647
29
-------
APPENDICES
-------
Appendix A
WORLD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Oil shale, by one name or another, occurs on
all continents and is known to exist in nearly
three dozen countries. Few of the known occur-
rences and practically none of the large occurrences
have ever been completely explored. The principal
exception is the Creen River Formation in Colorado,
Utah, and Wyoming. Total world resources are
thus unknown, but it must be measured in hundreds
of trillions of barrels. Asia is believed to contain
the most oil shale, with Africa running a close
second. Still, the Green River deposit is the largest
single known concentration of hydrocarbons
in the world.
USA
The Ute Indians and their predecessors probably
used oil shale as a fuel long before white man
found his way to the Piceance Creek basin. Later
on, the Mormons distilled oil from shale near
Juab, Utah, where the ruins of an old retort still
exist.
It wasn't until World War I that serious interest
was given to utilizing Creen River oil shale. More
than 50 oil shale companies had operated in the
eastern U.S. prior to when Colonel Drake's Pennsyl-
vania oil well was drilled in 1859. These early
operations were crude, and no attempt had ever
been made to apply the technology to the deposits
of western shales discovered in the 1880's.
Western oil shale activity began in the 1890's
in Nevada. A businessman named Robert Catlin
acquired oil shale properties near Elko between
1890 and 1915. He visited Broxburn, Scotland, in
1901 to study the Scottish operations and eventually
began R&D with Elko deposits in 1914. A 100-foot
shaft was sunk on his property in 1915 and the
following year he erected a 20 ton-per-day retort
which proved to be unsatisfactory and was later
dismantled. In 1917, he incorporated Catlin Shale
Products Company.
In 1918, the company began constructing eight
100 ton-per-day retorts which differed in design
from the 1915 models. The retorts were in operation
in May 1919, and by July, the new plant had pro-
duced 15,000 gallons of shale oil. The refrigerator
plant, wax press, stills, and agitator were added to
the plant late in 1919 and in early 1920. Sometime
later, the Catlin Company's retorts were shut
down. A third retort, 40 feet high and 12Vj feet
in diameter, was constructed and put in operation
in December 1921. This retort was operated
intermittently until October 18,1924. In 1924, the
shale oil products were offered for sale for the
purpose of testing the market. The products
apparently could not be marketed in competition
with petroleum products. On December 23,1930,
the company was dissolved. Its operation admittedly
was experimental.
The Oil Shale Mining Company was apparently
the first group to undertake R&D efforts with
Green River Formation oil shale. It was incorporated
in Colorado on October 2,1916, as a public stock
company with a capitalization of $100,000. It
acquired six mining claims about 15 miles west
of DeBeque, Colorado. An externally heated, six
to eight ton-per-day batchtype Henderson retort,
18 feet high and 12 to 15 inches in diameter, and
a tramway were constructed. By the end of 1918
or the early part of 1919, the company had six of
these retorts, only one of which was assembled
and operated on an experimental basis. By 1920,
the company experimented with a continuous
type of retort, invented by its superintendent,
A.V. Young, which was subsequently abandoned.
The company produced a few barrels of oil in
1920 and 30 barrels in 1921. Ore for the retorts
was obtained from small pits on the claims from
1917 to 1921. By 1926, the company lost its prop-
erties through attachments.
The stories of the Catlin Shale works and the
Oil Shale Mining Company are illustrative of
A-1
-------
dozens of similar operations that existed during
the decade following World War I. Most operations
were experimental in nature and none ever pro-
duced more than a few thousand barrels.
By 1925, more than two dozen experimental
plants were operating throughout the country,
using Devonian as well as Green River shales. But
interest in oil shale was not limited to the entre-
preneur. Cities Service, Standard Oil of California,
and Texaco began acquiring oil shale properties
and investigating shale oil production in 1918.
Union Oil Company of California followed suit in
1920. Standard of California conducted laboratory
retorting experiments in 1920 and from 1925 to 1928.
The U.S. Bureau of Mines built and operated
the N-T-U retort from 1925 to 1929, using Colorado
oil shale.
During the mid-1920's, Union conducted studies
of existing oil shale processes, made analyses of
oil shale samples and undertook an oil shale
research program. Starting in 1944, it built and
operated an experimental retort with a capacity
of two tons-per-day. In 1948, it completed a 50 ton-
per-day retort which was dismantled in 1954.
Construction of a 1,000 ton-per-day demonstration
plant was started in 1955 on Parachute Creek
north of Grand Valley, Colorado. The plant was
completed in 1957 and operated until mid-1958.
Mobil Oil Corporation began a research program
to evaluate the potential of oil shale in 1943. A
pilot plant was built at Paulsboro, New Jersey,
and an experimental program was conducted
between 1943 and 1945. In 1965 through 1967,
Mobil was operator of a six-company group that
leased the Anvil Points demonstration facility
near Rifle, Colorado, and further developed gas
combustion retorting technology.
Texaco's R&D activities also date to the 1940's.
From 1945 to 1947, Texaco prepared a shale oil
refining study for the Navy at its own expense.
Beginning in 1957 after experimentation with
other methods of extracting oil from shale, Texaco
built and operated a pilot plant to develop its
own hydrotorting process.
Congress passed the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act
in 1944 because of the tremendous demands for
liquid fuels imposed by World War II. This led to
construction and operation of the Anvil Points
Oil Shale Demonstration Facility of the U.S.
Bureau of Mines. Six, 25, and 150 ton-per-day
pilot plants were operated between 1950 and 1955.
The Paraho Oil Shale Project was a three-year
program aimed at demonstrating the feasibility
of the Paraho process. The program was admin-
istered by Development Engineering, Inc., under
the leadership of Harry Pforzheimer of SOHIO.
The program was conducted at the Anvil Points
Oil Shale Facilities near Rifle, Colorado. These
facilities are leased from DOE. The project was
launched in 1973 with funds from seventeen
participating companies. At the present time, the
Paraho facility at Anvil Points is involved in the
production of 100,000 barrels of shale oil under
contract to the U.S. Navy. The Navy intends to
have this shale oil refined into military specification
products by an independent contractor.
In 1968, the Department of Interior (DOI)
instituted the Oil Shale Test Leasing Program. An
oil shale leasing study was initiated by DOI in
October 1969 which subsequently led to the
Final Environmental Impact Statement released
in August 1973.
Commencing with competitive bid sales in
January 1974, the DOI offered the lease of the
six selected tracts in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming,
and during the following six months leased four
of these tracts, two each in Colorado (Tracts C-a
and C-b) and Utah (Tracts U-a and U-b). Neither
of the two Wyoming tracts received acceptable
bids.
The C-b Shale Oil Project lease was awarded
in April 1974 to a group composed of Ashland Oil,
Inc., the Atlantic Richfield Company, Shell Oil,
Inc., and The Oil Shale Corporation (TOSCO).
Later, three of the companies withdrew from the
project, leaving Ashland Oil. On November 3,
1976, Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY)
entered into an agreement with Ashland Oil
whereby OXY gained a 50 percent interest in
Tract C-b in exchange for their technology con-
cerning the modified in situ process.
A-2
-------
Occidental and Ashland plan to develop Tract
C-b in a progressive fashion which will allow early
evaluation of the modified in situ technology on
the new site prior to construction of a full scale
commercial facility. Current plans call for con-
structing a small retort test area which can begin
operations while development of the commercial
mine and retorts is underway. It is expected that
the first retort will be ready for processing by
November 1980. When the commercial facility
reaches full production by 1983, approximately 40
retorts will be in various stages of "burning" at
the same time. This will produce a total of 57,000
barrels of shale oil daily. Utilizing OXY's modified
in situ technology will result in the production of
approximately 1.2 billion barrels of the 3.0 billion
barrels of shale oil in place on the tract. If it is
determined that surface retorts can be used to
process the mined out shale, total recovery will
be about 1.65 billion barrels of oil. Occidental
and Ashland estimate that the required capital
cost of the Tract C-b oil shale facility will be
$440 million. In turn, development of the tract
will result in 1,600 permanent jobs for the duration
of the 56-year project.
The White River Shale Project is a joint devel-
opment of Tracts U-a and U-b in northeastern
Utah. The lease on Tract U-a was awarded to
Phillips Petroleum Company and Sunoco Energy
Development Company (then Sun Oil Company)
in May 1974. Sohio Petroleum Company then
joined Sunoco and Phillips to create the White
River Shale Oil Corporation which was awarded
a lease on Tract U-b in June 1974.
White River plans to follow a modular devel-
opment approach in commercializing oil shale
operations on Tracts U-a and U-b. The first major
activity on the tracts will be to establish a room
and pillar mine with its attendant access shafts.
This Phase I developmental mine will better
define the shale conditions existing on the tract
which will have an effect on future large scale
mining and processing operations. During this
initial mining operation, about 30,000 tons of shale
will be mined for crushing and retorting evaluations.
During Phase II this exploratory mine will be
enlarged to the point where it can produce about
10,000 tons of oil shale per day. This oil shale will
subsequently be crushed and fed to a single
commercial sized vertical retort. Successful
initiation and operation of the single retort instal-
lation will be followed by engineering and con-
struction of a commercial plant. For the commercial
plant producing 100,000 barrels of shale oil per
day the mining operations will produce about
160,000 tons per day of raw shale.
White River estimates that the cost for com-
mercial development on Tracts U-a and U-b will
be approximately $1.6 billion. Long-term commercial
development will result in the creation of 2,050
permanent jobs. Because of the high costs involved,
and because of the risks and uncertainty surrounding
such a project, White River feels that the ultimate
development of Tracts U-a and U-b may require
government support. White River has recently
proposed a $246 million modular demonstration
plant to be funded via DOE. The demonstration
plant would include both modified in situ and
surface retorts. Future development on Tracts
U-a and U-b, however, is clouded by a legal question
concerning ownership of the leased lands. This
issue is currently being considered by the courts,
and no development on the tracts is likely until
these issues are resolved.
OTHER COUNTRIES
Oil shale industries have existed at one time
or another in 13 other countries. The first recorded
production of shale oil was in Austria in 1350.
A 14th century British patent refers to deriving
"a kind of oyle from a stone." The first recorded
installation of oil shale retorts to produce oil as
fuel was in France in 1838.
Two recurrent situations are noted in the history
of oil shale development since 1838. First, it has
only occurred under unusual, localized conditions,
primarily where no viable sources of coal or crude
oil were available or where they were inadequate.
Only two significant industries still exist today - -
in Manchuria and Estonia. They both meet this
condition. When supplies of crude oil were ade-
quate, oil shale has never been able to compete
economically, unless subsidized.
A-3
-------
The second situation is that, until very recently,
oil shale industries were at their best just before,
during, and immediately following World War II.
Australia
Oil shale occurrences were first noted in Australia
in 1802 and numerous small operations existed
from 1865 to 1945; however, there has been only
one significant Australian operation. That was
the Glen Davis Plant in New South Wales. It was
operated between 1938 and 1955 by a government
subsidized company that was created for that
purpose in 1937. Its oil shale came from the Newnes
Capertee deposit near Clen Davis. The plant
featured the use of about 100 vertical kiln retorts
patterned after the Scottish Pumpherstone-Fell
type. Each retort handled 7 or 8 tons of 70 galions-
per-ton shale per day and recovered about 90
percent of the assay value of the feed shale. The
total theoretical capacity was thus about 11,000
barrels daily, but the complex apparently only
produced a level of about 1,500 barrels per day.
Operations proved to be uneconomical after
World War II and the facilities were abandoned.
During the war, however, many "backyard" oil
shale operations existed, one of these was operated
by Lithgo Oil Party Ltd. at Marangaroo, New
South Wales, and produced over 2 million gallons
of oil at a time when every drop of liquid fuel
counted.
Today, there is no shale oil production anywhere
in Australia. An exploration program to prove up
new reserves was conducted during the late
1950's but only questionable prospects were
identified. Two large exploration programs are
underway now and tentatively plans are being
made for potential renewal of an Australian oil
shale industry.
Austria
Production of shale oil was first recorded in
Tyrol in 1350 A.D. but there are indications that
this began even much earlier. Around 1600, shale
oil or "rock oil" as it was called was discovered
to have medical value and many primitive works
produced oil for trading and local consumption.
Shale oil production attained some economic
significance in 1839 when an asphalt factory
began operation. Between 1840 and 1882, oil shale
was employed mostly for the extraction of asphalt
mastic, naphtha, and asphalt tar. By 1900 the
therapeutic value of shale oil was again recognized
and since then has been produced solely for
medical purposes in the field of dermatology.
From 1937 to 1966, the annual use was about 600
tons. Some use of shale oil probably continues
today, but the relatively small reserves and com-
plicated mining situation leave significant oil
shale use in Austria in doubt.
Brazil
Reserves of medium-quality Irati shale oil in
Brazil are known to be adequate for an extremely
large industry, but large scale commercial exploi-
tation was not seriously considered until after
World War II. Nevertheless, it is known that
illuminating gas was produced from oil shale in
the Pariaba Valley as early as 1882. Small scale
operations existed off and on thereafter until
1946.
In 1950, the Brazilian government launched
a major research program to develop a practical
technology for utilizing Irati shale. Bench scale
and pilot plant studies during the 1950's and
1960's resulted in development of the Petrosix
process. In addition to oil, the Petrosix process
yields LPC, high-BTU fuel gas, and elemental
sulfur and all are products of importance in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Brazil's oil shale was explored, in
reconnaissance fashion, over most of the southern
part of the country. Geologists ultimately selected
a site near Sao Mateus do Sul in the southern part
of the State of Parana for a concentrated explo-
ration effort. Coreholes were drilled on a 100
meter grid pattern and reserves of some 700
million barrels were delineated and plans were
made in the mid-1960's to establish a demonstration
Petrosix plant at this site.
Operation of the 2,200 ton-per-day demonstration
plant began in 1973. The Petrosix retort installed
at the plant was designed by Cameron Engineers.
A-4
-------
The retort is the focal point of an impressive
complex that includes facilities for crushing,
screening, fines briquetting, oil separation, LPG
and sulfur recovery from retort off-gas, and power
production. A new town was established at nearby
Curitiba, complete with attractive residences
and schools plus all the necessary amenities such
as a water and sewer system and roads paved with
crushed oil shale.
A nearby surface mine provides shale to the
plant, which is located near the oil shale outcrop.
Oil shale is recovered from two beds near the
surface but separated by a bed of barren limestone.
By 1976, the Brazilians had become experts at
operating the plant and began serious studies of
starting a large-scale commercial industry. The
2,200 ton-per-day retort is some 18 feet in diameter
and it may be used as the first in a battery of
commercial-scale modules that would be built
at the existing complex. But it is likely that Petro-
bras may seriously consider going to a retort
twice the diameter and four times the throughput.
In any event, it would be no surprise to hear
Brazil announce firm plans for a large-scale in-
dustry before 1980.
Burma
The Burmese oil shale deposit is an extension
of that in Thailand. Reserves are not large but
quality appears to be good. There has never been
any commercial production.
Canada
Oil shales from the maritime provinces were
distilled to produce waxes and illuminating oils
in the early 1800's, but no significant industry
ever existed. Studies during the last decade have
failed to provide an economical means of using
Canadian shales from either Saskatchewan or
the maritime provinces. Reserves are substantial
but quality is marginal. The best use may prove
to be for production or direct burning for power
generation.
France
The world's first recorded production of shale
was in France in 1838. France's shale oil industry
apparently flourished until the discovery of con-
ventional liquid petroleum. After that, the French
government from time to time provided various
kinds of financial support such as duties on imports
or direct subsidies. The French industry apparently
used the Scottish Pumpherstone retort almost
exclusively after 1860 and until the 1940's when
French-designed retorts replaced the smaller
Pumpherstone. Production apparently reached
an all-time high of 500,000 tons in 1947 but declined
steadily thereafter. Still, three plants were in
operation as late as 1950, each receiving indirect
government subsidies of one kind or another. The
industry ceased in the 1960's.
Germany
The first recorded utilization of oil shale in
Germany was in 1916, but little is known of the
early industry - - it probably existed on only a
pilot or experimental scale. By 1937, only one
small plant was in operation. It consisted of a
series of small vertical retorts held in masonry
and externally heated with hot gases. Production
was not large and the plant did not play an im-
portant part in subsequent developments in
Germany. In 1940, oil shale operations began at
a former portland cement plant in Dotternhausen.
Germany, of course, has large deposits of brown
coal and lignite in addition to oil shale. During
the 1930's the Hitler regime focused efforts on
producing liquid fuels from coal and lignite. This
resulted in improvements to the Bergius and
Fischer-Tropsch processes and the installation
of full-scale industrial plants. Early in World War
II these synthetic fuels plants using coal seemed
adequate to meet Germany's wartime needs for
liquid fuels, but the situation quickly changed
after the U.S. entered the war and bombing raids
began to take a heavy toll. The situation in Germany
for expanding an oil shale industry during the war
was, of course, entirely unique. It was only necessary
to issue an order to that effect with no concern
for economic viability. Instead of developing
A-5
-------
plans similar to those of existing plants, however,
the group given the responsibility for oil shale
directed their efforts toward in situ recovery.
Some technology was developed, but the overall
effort was unsuccessful and little shale oil was
ever produced.
Meanwhile the Dotternhausen plant was dam-
aged by bombs during the war and operations
had ceased. In 1943, Lurgi began construction of
an oil shale plant at Frommern but it was never
completed. Both of these projects were resurrected
after the war and by late 1947 both plants were
back in operation with a combined production
of 1,500 tons-per-day. The Lurgi plant was equipped
with Schweitzer retorts whereas the Dotternhausen
plant utilized Meier-Crollman retorts. Both plants
were located in the Province of Wurttemberg.
A small-scale industry may still exist in Germany
but, ironically, it is for making building materials
from spent shale. Oil production is not important.
Germany's oil shale deposits are of relatively poor
quality which helps explain the erratic nature of
the industry there. There is little prospect that
oil shale will be important to Germany in the
future.
Israel
The Israeli government evaluated Dead Sea
shales as a source of power plant fuel in the early
1950's, but found the idea to be uneconomical.
Recent interest has been shown in shales found
in the Negev desert where more than 600 million
tons of reserves have been delineated. The deposit
is situated near several industrial operations
requiring large amounts of process heat and
power. Thus the question is whether to burn the
shale directly for production of heat or to retort
the shale to yield liquid and gaseous fuels. The
Israeli power industry now depends entirely on
imported fuel oil, so the prospects for oil shale
development are excellent.
Jordan
A thorough exploration program was conducted
during the past decade with financial and tech-
nical assistance from the U.S. and British govern-
ments. An excellent deposit of high grade shale
has been identified but political problems have
inhibited further development efforts.
Morroco
Interest was shown during the past three or
four years in investigating oil shale potential, but
the present status is unknown.
New Zealand
The existence of oil shale in New Zealand has
been known for several generations. Shale oil
was even produced in small quantities from time
to time beginning in about 1900, but significant
production was never achieved. Studies during
the past five years indicate deposits are too small
and of low quality.
Peoples Republic of China
A 450-foot thick oil shale deposit overlies one
of the world's thickest coal deposits in the vicinity
of Fushun in Liaoning Province of Northern China.
The oil shale may never have been commercially
exploited except for the fact that it exists as
overburden which had to be removed anyhow to
reach the coal deposit. In any event, the Japanese
began commercial utilization of the oil shale at
Fushun in 1926. Shale oil was a principal source
of liquid fuels for Japan during World War II.
The Fushun industry was in full operation in
1970 with a reported crude shale oil production
of 2 million tons annually, from 30 million tons
of oil shale. This is the equivalent to some 15
million barrels or about 40,000 barrels per day.
At that time, it was believed that coal mining was
being shifted to underground operations, which
would preclude the need for mining the over-
burden oil shale and thus jeopardize the shale
oil industry. But it was reported in 1974 that China
was instead planning to expand shale oil production
to as much as 10 million tons annually, or about
200,000 barrels per day. This would require the
mining of some 150 million tons of oil shale.
A-6
-------
Several large refineries exist near Fushun today
and they process conventional petroleum in
addition to shale oil. The Fushun retort is said to
be at least comparable to any design used else-
where. One-fifth of China's total requirement for
oil products are said to have been met with shale
oil in 1974. It is also reported that some shale oil
is exported to Japan,
A second Chinese oil shale facility has been
reported to be operating near Maoming, in the
southern Province of Kwangtun, possibly pro-
ducing two million tons of oil shale per year. Press
releases suggest that these facilities are in working
condition and that production is "considerable".
Generally speaking, reliable data on the Chinese
operation are scarce.
Romania
A team of government technologists has been
studying oil shale prospects for the past five years
in an area near the Yugoslav border Technical
assistance has been sought in the U.S., but mining
conditions are unfavorable and shale quality
relatively poor.
Scotland
The Scottish oil shale industry began around
1860. Sometime shortly after that, more than 140
companies and individuals were engaged in oil
shale ventures. The industry, which supplied
products for the home, grew and prospered until
the decreasing cost of imported petroleum reduced
profits. In addition, the advent of synthetic ammonia
made the production of ammonium sulfate as an
oil shale by-product unprofitable. To survive,
many of the small industries were absorbed by
larger ones. By 1870 when production had reached
800,000 tons annually, there were some 50 oil
shale companies operating. The number was re-
duced to six by 1910 when production reached
3 million tons annually. Production hit an alj-time
high in 1913: 3,280,000 tons, or about 4,400 barrels
per day. By 1920, all oil shale operations in Great
Britain were consolidated under one parent com-
pany, Scottish Oil Ltd., which later became a
subsidiary of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.
The Scottish industry continued at a relatively
good pace after that although production gradually
decreased. Diesel oil and gasoline were the principal
products but tars and waxes were also produced
in significant quantities. A good-sized soap plant
even operated during the late 1930's and early
1940's. In 1947,12 mines, 4 retorting plants and a
central refinery were in operation, but production
by that time had decreased to 1.4 million tons
per year. Although the industry did not receive
direct government subsidies during this period,
a portion of the diesel and gasoline taxes were
remitted to the company to encourage production.
Nevertheless, the postwar fate of the industry
was inevitable. British Petroleum (BP) Company
replaced Scottish Oils Ltd. as the oil shale operator
in the early 1950's. Production declined sharply
and became progressively less profitable. BP
conducted some in situ recovery experiments
during this period, but with little success. Finally,
BP decided in 1964 to suspend oil shale operations,
which by that time were not profitable at all.
The mines were plugged, and the retorting, trans-
portation, and refining facilities were dismantled
and mostly scrapped. The work force, which had
numbered 900 in 1962, was disbanded. Today,
the only remaining evidence of the Scottish oil
shale industry are hills of spent shale - - if you
know where to look. Mother Nature has done
her job relatively well in revegetating the hills.
The industry's fate still seems sealed. A 1974
study prepared for the British government con-
cluded that oil shale production would still be
uneconomical and should not be resumed, but
recommended that the situation be closely mon-
itored and that updated geologic exploration be
undertaken.
Sicily
Oil shale has never been developed commer-
cially in Sicily. A large deposit of medium grade
is indicated, but it has never been thoroughly
evaluated.
A-7
-------
South Africa
A small deposit of high grade shale at Ermelo
was developed commercially in 1935. The reserve
was eventually depleted and operations ceased
a few years ago. A search for new deposits has
been unsuccessful to date.
Spain
Spain's oil shale deposit is relatively small. A
small plant built in 1922 by the Penarroya Co.
at the country's principal deposit near Puertollano
about 120 miles south of Madrid The Penarroya
plant was operated off-and-on for the next 30
years. Production from the plant was never large,
perhaps no more than 100 to 200 barrels daily.
The National Industrial Institute of Spain created
a new oil shale company in 1942 and development
work was begun in the Puertollano area. It probably
encompassed the older Penarroya plant or re-
placed it altogether, fn any event, the new plant
was referred to as the Calvo Sotelo plant. It was
completed in 1955, but its retorts were both out-
dated and uneconomical. The operations were
eventually integrated with a new refinery using
imported petroleum. It is doubtful that shale oil
is still being produced today.
Sweden
The oil shale deposits in Sweden have been
subjected to relatively intensive geofogtc inves-
tigation over the years. They are scattered through-
out the country and are small but reasonably good
quality reserves. About 1920, an experimental oil
shale plant was erected at Kinnekulle with govern-
ment support. The plant was a technical success
but it was later shut down for economic reasons.
Nevertheless, the retort used in this operation was
an important development and was the basis
for later industry developments.
During World War I J, Sweden found it necessary
again to turn to shale oil production and a much
larger plant was built at Kvarntorp, entirely at
government expense. The shale deposits at Kvarn-
torp consist of two layers, each 20 to 25 feet thick.
The upper layer yields about 13 gallons of oil per
tori and the lower layer yields about 18 gallons
of oil per ton, when retorted. Above the shale,
there is usually a bed of limestone. An open pit
mine was opened at an outcropping of shale and
an in situ operation was conducted nearby where
a gas-tight limestone capping was present on the
shale bed. The original plant included three Bergh
retorts, two 1M tunnel kilns, one HC retort, a
Ljungstrom method in situ operation, condensation
equipment, shale quarry, topping plant, refinery,
steam power plant, sulfur recovery plant, and tank
farm. The plant had a capacity of about 260 barrels
daily during the war
The Ljungstrom in situ method featured electro-
thermal heating of shale in place. The field was
prepared by draining off groundwater and drilling
holes for emplacement of heating elements and
for oil vapor collection. Holes were arranged in
a hexagonal pattern with 7-foot spacings. Electric
power came from the company's own steam power
plant as well as from public power lines. The
heating period lasted for about five months. The
shale attained 550"F after three months and
700°F after five months. Shate oil vapors and
gases seeped toward the gas vapor weils and
reached the condensers under pressure created
by the in situ field. By bringing ir» additional areas,
a heat wave was made to pass through the shale
at a rate of about 500 feet per year.
The plant was improved after the war and by
1947 was producing shale oil at about 1,600 barrels
per day Post-war economics finally caught up
with the plant, however, and shale oil production
was phased out in 1963, although the refinery
and by-product facilities continued operation
on imported oil feedstocks.
Thailand
Studies of Thai oil shale were begun fairly
recently by a consortium of Thai, Japanese and
U.S. interests. A significant deposit of rich shale
is indicated, making the long term outlook reason-
ably good. But commercial production has never
been achieved and there is no active project
known to exist today.
A-8
-------
USSR
USSR oil shale history is, for the most part,
Estonian oil shale history. Estonian oil shale, known
as kukersite is among the richest oil shale in the
world and sufficient reserves exist for a very large
industry. Most kukersite processed by the Soviets
exceeds 40 gallons per ton. The two principal
uses to date have been as a boiler fuel by simply
burning the shaie, and as a source of combustible,
low-BTU town gas primarily for use in Leningrad.
Lately, the Soviets have been directing their R&D
efforts towards the production of oil and chemicals.
The history of the Estonian oil shale industry
began in 1920, three years after the nation was
freed from imperialist Russian rule. Research
and development was conducted during the
following several years, and in 1925 the State Oil
Shale Industry erected a plant with a capacity
of 200 tons per day. The Pintsch-type retort installed
in the plant was used for production of low-BTU
town gas and was no doubt the progenitor of the
modern-day gas generator known as the Kiviter
retort.
Two years later a company known as the Oil
Shale Syndicate built the first tunnel oven. Then,
in 1930 and 1931, two tunnel ovens or kilns were
built at the Estonian Mineral A-G plant. They each
had a capacity pf 250 tons. The tunnel kiln results
were so encouraging that two more were built in
1936 and 1937, each having a capacity of 400 tons.
The tunnel kilns were batch-type processes wherein
as many as 18 shallow hopper cars loaded with oil
shale to a depth of about one foot would pass
through a rectangular-shaped steel tunnel several
hundred feet long. Hot gases would be passed
through the shale beds and gas and oil recovered.
All of the evolved gas and some of the oil was
needed to produce heat for the process, so it was
relatively inefficient. Even so, tunnel ovens were
used until the late 1960's.
The New Consolidated Gold Fields Company
started R&D of another process in the late 1920's,
including pilot plant work in England. In 1931, it
built a plant containing eight externally hpated
rotary retorts with a combined capacity of 200
tons per day. The Davidson rotary retort (named
after its English designer) was the forerunner of
the present day Galoter retort and is similar to
the TOSCO II retort in that it employed indirect
heating of oil shale. Carbon on spent shale was
burned to provide retorting heat.
The Estonian oil shale industry was thus well
established by the late 193CPS. Production reached
nearly 800,000 tons in 1938, second only to Scotland.
But war was on the way. Estonia was occupied
by Russia in 1939. While the existing industry was
not severely hampered, any expansion plans
were likely curtailed. In 1941, Germany invaded
Estonia and the Russians disabled the entire
industry as they withdrew to the east The Germans
immediately developed plans to restore the
industry using local materials and to greatly
expand it using plants designed and fabricated in
Germany. They never had a chance to get started.
Russia regained possession of Estonia in 1944.
They apparently assumed the German plans for
expanding the oil shale industry also. The Russian
five-year program called for 9.4 million tons of
production annually. That goal was probably not
reached; however, at least one new plant was
completed during the 1950's.
During the 1960's, an impressively large R&D
program was carried out to develop the Kiviter
and Galoter processes. Two large demonstration
plants (1,000 Tpd) were built in the early 1970's
and are still being operated today. Even larger
retorts are being designed and may now be under
construction. Licensing of the Kiviter and Galoter
is now being pursued in the U.S. through the
Soviet Licensitorg. Resource Sciences Corporation
of Tulsa has played a role in this effort.
The old rotary retorts and tunnel ovens were
phased out before 1970, but 1971 production in
Estonia was estimated at 18.1 million tons, or
about 50,000 tons per day. Some confusion exists
over current production. One source reported
in 1976 that production had reached 54 million
tons annually. Then in 1977, the OZ/& Gas Journal
reported that 50 to 60 million tons annually is
the goal by the end of the decade. The latter
report seems more believable.
The principal use of Estonia kukersite today
is as a fuel burned directly in electric power
generation. While shale production in Estonia
A-9
-------
represents only about one percent of total USSR
fuel requirements, it accounts for some 90 percent
of Estonian power production. Two-thirds of all
oil shale mined in Estonia is burned directly in
power plants; the remainder is processed to obtain
fuel oil, gasoline, town gas primarily for Leningrad,
and various chemicals.
Another oil shale area in the USSR thought to
be receiving some attention is the lower Volga
region. There probably was some development
there during the 1930's and it may even have
approached the size of the Estonian industry at
one time. During recent conversations with Soviet
technologists, however, this region was not men-
tioned.
Zaire
Production of oil shale in Zaire has never been
achieved and recent attempts at exploration and
evaluation of deposits have been interrupted by
political events. However, reserves of high grade
oil shale are indicated to be large.
A-10
-------
Appendix B
ABBREVIATIONS
Department of Energy
Denver Research Institute
Environmental Monitor-
ing and Support Labora-
tory, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Research
and Development Admin-
istration
Environmental Research
Laboratory, Athens,
Georgia
Environmental Research
Laboratory, Culf Breeze,
Florida
Fiscal Year
Health Effects Research
Laboratory, Research
Triangle Park, North
Carolina
Industrial and Environ-
mental Research Lab-
oratory, Cincinnati, Ohio
Industrial and Environ-
mental Research Lab-
oratory, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina
Los Alamos Scientific
Laboratory, Los Alamos,
New Mexico - (Under
the DOE)
LERC Laramie Energy Research
Center, Laramie, Wyo-
ming - (Under the DOE)
LLL Lawrence Livermore
Laboratory, Livermore,
California - (Under the
DOE)
NBS National Bureau of
Standards
NIOSH National Institute of
Occupational Safety
'and Health
OEMI Office of Energy, Minerals
and Industry
OER Office of Energy Research
ORD Office of Research and
Development
ORNL Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee - (Under the
DOE)
R&D Research and Develop-
ment
TOSCO The Oil Shale Corporation
UCLA University of California
at Los Angeles
USBM U.S. Bureau of Mines
USDA U.S. Department of
Agriculture
USGS U.S. Geological Survey
B-1
-------
Appendix C
GLOSSARY
ATP - Adenosine triphosphate; acid that occurs
in living cells which plays a role in releasing
available energy for the work of muscular
contraction, and that plays a vital role in
most other biochemical processes that either
produce or require energy.
Auxotroph - A mutant strain of an organism that
requires some growth factor.
Azaguanine * 8-azaguanine; guanine in which the
-CH=group in position 8 is replaced by -N=.
It interferes with the growth of certain mouse
tumors, possibly because a nucleic acid
containing 8-azaguanine functions as an
antimetabolite for a corresponding nucleic
acid containing guanine.
Bioassay - Determination of the relative effective
strength of a substance by comparing its
effect on a test organism with that of a
standard preparation.
Carcinogenesis - The production of cancer.
Carcinogenic - Producing or tending to produce
cancer.
Cilia - Relatively short, centriole-based, hairlike,
processes on certain anatomical cells and
motile organisms.
Columnar cells - An epithelial cell in which the
height is markedly greater than the width.
Cytochemistry - The science concerned with the
chemistry of cells and cell components,
primarily with the location of chemical
constitutents and enzymes.
Cytological - Of or relating to methods of cytology.
Cytology - A branch of the biological sciences
which deals with the structure, behavior,
growth, and reproduction of cells and the
function and chemistry of cell components.
Cytoplasm - The substance of a cell exclusive of
the nucleus.
Cytotoxin - A specific substance, usually with
reference to antibody, that inhibits or pre-
vents the functions of cells, or causes the
destruction of cells, or both.
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid; any of various
nucleic acids that yield deoxyribose as one
product of hydrolysis, are found in nuclei
and genes, and are associated with the trans-
mission of genetic information.
Electrophoresis - The migration of charged col-
loidal particles through the medium in which
they are dispersed, when placed under the
influence of an applied electric potential.
Enzyme - A catalytic substance, protein in nature,
formed by living cells and having a specific
action in promoting chemical change.
Epithelium - A cellular animal tissue that covers
a free surface or lines a tube or cavity, that
consists of one or more layers of cells for-
ming a sheet practically unbroken by inter-
cellular substance and, either smoothly
extended, or much folded on a basement
membrane and compacted, and serves to
enclose and protect other parts of the body.
Esterase - Any of a group of enzymes that catalyze
the synthesis and hydrolysis of esters which
are a compound formed by the elimination
of water and the bonding of an alcohol and
an organic acid.
Eucaryote - A cell with a definitive nucleus.
Fibroblast - A stellate connective tissue cell found
in fibrous tissue. Also known as fibrocyte.
Guanine - A purine base important mainly as a
component of ribonucleic and deoxyribo-
nucleic acids.
C-1
-------
In Vitro - Pertaining to a biological reaction taking
place in an artificial apparatus.
In Vivo - Pertaining to a biological reaction taking
place in a living cell or organism.
Karotype - The chromosome characteristic of an
individual or a cell line.
Leukocyte - Any one of the white blood cells.
Lidar - An instrument in which a ruby laser gener-
ates intense infrared pulses in beam widths as
small as 30 seconds of arc; scattering of
clouds, smog layers, and some atmospheric
discontinuities are measured.
Lymphocyte - An agranular leukocyte formed
primarily in lymphoid tissue.
Macrophages - A large phagocyte of the reticu-
loendothelial system.
Mutagen - An agent that raises the frequency of
mutation above the spontaneous rate.
Neoplasm - New growth; an abnormal tissue that
grows by cellular proliferation more rapidly
than normal and continues to grow after the
stimuli that initiated the new growth cease.
Ouabain - White crystals that melt with decom-
position at 190 C, soluble in water and
ethanol.
Periphyton - Sessile biotal components of a fresh-
water ecosystem.
Phenotype - The sum total of visible traits which
characterize the members of a group.
Phytoplankton - Passively floating or weakly
motile aquatic plants and animals.
Procaryote - A microorganismal cell that lacks
a mitochondria; its genome consists of a
large molecule of DNA not enclosed within
a membrane, and does not undergo mitosis
during replication.
Raman Band - Band observed in the scattering of
light as it passes through a change in fre-
quency and a random alteration in phase
due to a change in rotational or vibrational
energy of the scattering molecules.
RNA - Ribonucleic acid; a long chain, usually
single-stranded nucleic acid consisting of
repeating nucleotide units containing four
kinds of heterocyclic, organic bases; they
are conjugated to the pentose sugar ribose
and held in sequence by phosphodiester
bonds; involved intercellularly in protein
synthesis.
Teratogen - An agent causing formation of a
congenital anomaly or monstrosity.
Thiophene - A heterocyclic constituent of coal
tar; used as a solvent and in the manufacture
of medicinal agents.
C-2
-------
Appendix D
GENERAL REFERENCES ON OIL SHALE
Ashland Oil, Inc., and Shell Oil Company, "Oil
Shale Tract C-b Detailed Development Plan
and Related Materials," 2 volumes, February
1976.
Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Inc., "Engineering,
Systems Engineering, and Management
Support Services for Preparation of the Naval
Oil Shale Reserve Master Development
Plan," August 1977.
Cameron Engineers, Inc., "A Technical and Eco-
nomic Study of Candidate Underground
Mining Systems for Deep, Thick Oil Shale
Deposits," prepared for the U.S. Bureau of
Mines, October 1976.
Cameron Engineers, Inc., "Oil Shale Seminar:
Conducted for the Department of the Navy,
Office of Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves,"
September 1977.
Cameron Engineers, Inc., "Synthetic Fuels Data
Handbook," compiled by Thomas Hendrick-
son, 1976. ,
Cameron Engineers, Inc., "Synthetic Fuels Quarterly
Report," various issues.
Colorado School of Mines, "Proceedings of the
Ninth Oil Shale Symposium," Volume 71,
Number 4, October 1976. (Proceedings of
symposiums 1 through 8 are also available).
DRI, "An Engineering Analysis Report on the
Paraho Oil Shale Process," prepared under
contract to EPA, June1977.
DRI, "An Engineering Analysis Report on the
TOSCO II Qil Shale Process," prepared
under contract to EPA, March 1977.
DRI, "Applicable Control Technologies, Paraho
Oil Shale Process," prepared under contract
to EPA June 1977.
DRI, "Applicable Technologies, TOSCO II Oil
Shale Process," prepared under contract
to EPA, June 1977.
Radian Corporation, "A Western Regional Energy
Development Study," 4 volumes, August 1975.
Radian Corporation, "Guidelines for Monitoring
Research-Scale In Situ Energy Processes,"
Final Report, September 1976.
Rio Blanco Oil Shale Project, "Revised Detailed
Development Plan, Tract C-a," May 1977.
Schmidt-Collerus, Dr. Josef J., "The Disposal and
Environmental Effects of Carbonaceous
Solid Wastes from Commercial Oil Shale
Operations," First Annual Report, National
Science Foundation, January 1974.
Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, Inc.,
"Oil Shale," Custom search on on-going oil
shale projects, October 1977.
Thome Ecological Institute, "The Colony Environ-
mental Study - Parachute Creek, Garfield
County, Colorado," prepared for Colony
Development, Atlantic Richfield, Operator,
1974.
TRW, "An Engineering Analysis Report on the
Occidental Modified In Situ Process," pre-
pared under contract to EPA, May 1977.
TRW, "An Engineering Analysis Report on the
Union Retort B Process," prepared under
contract to EPA, March 1977.
TRW, "An Engineering Analysis Report on the
Lurgi Retorting Process for Oil Shale," pre-
pared under contract to EPA, March 1977.
TRW, "An Evaluation of Control Technologies
for Treating Oil Shale Wastewaters," prepared
under contract to EPA, May 1977.
D-1
-------
TRW, "Evaluation of Air Pollution Control Equip-
ment to Oil Shale Recovery Processes,"
prepared under contract to EPA, May 1977.
TRW, "Impact Assessment of Particulates Emitted
from Four Different Oil Shale Plants," pre-
pared under contract to EPA, May 1977.
TRW, "Management of Solid Waste Residuals
from Oil Shale Recovery Processes," prepared
under contract to EPA, May 1977.
TRW, "Oil Shale Resources Data Management
System," prepared under contract to EPA,
October 1976.
TRW, "The Origin, Properties and Resources of
Oil Shale in the Green River Formation,"
prepared under contract to EPA, December
1975.
TRW/DRI, "Control Technology for Shale Oil
Recovery Processes," prepared under con-
tract to EPA, July 1977.
TRW/DRI, "Environmental Analysis of Oil Shale
Operations," prepared under contract to
EPA, July 1977.
TRW/DRI, "Research of Sampling and Analysis
Procedures: Paraho Demonstration Retort,"
prepared under contract to EPA, July 1977.
TRW/DRI, "Sampling and Analysis Research
Program at the Paraho Shale Oil Demon-
stration Plant," prepared under contract to
EPA, prepublication copy, May 1977.
TRW/DRI, "Technological Overview Reports for
Eight Shale Oil Recovery Processes," pre-
pared under contract to EPA, December
1976.
TRW/DRI, "Trace Elements Associated with Oil
Shale and Its Processing," prepared under
contract to EPA, May 1977.
U.S. Department of Interior, "Final Environmental
Statement for the Prototype Oil Shale Leasing
Program," six volumes, 1973.
U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey,
"Organic-Rich Shale of the United States
and World Land Areas," USGS Circular
523,1965
U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey,
"Simulated Effects of Oil Shale Development
on the Hydrology of Piceance Basin, Colo-
rado," Professional Paper 908,1974.
U.S. Federal Energy Administration, "Project
Independence Report," 1974.
White River Shale Project, "Detailed Development
Plan - Federal Lease Tracts Ua & Ub," 2 vol-
umes, 1976.
D-2
-------
Appendix E
EPA PUBLISHED REPORTS ON OIL SHALE
The following reports were published before October 1977.
1PA No.*
NTIS No/* Title and Date
E PA-600/9-77-033
E PA-625/9-77-002
E PA-908/4-77-010a& b
E PA-600/7-77-069
EPA-600/7-77-072
E P A-908/4-77-007
E PA-600/7-77-032
EPA-600/7-77-037
EPA-600/7-77-024
NA*
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
"Oil Shale and the Environment," EPA Decision Series (October
1977)
"Environmental Sampling of the Paraho Oil Shale Retort Process
at Anvil Points," Executive Briefing, EPA Technology Transfer
Series (October 1977)
"Emissions from Synthetic Fuels Production Facilities," Radian
Corporation (September 1977)
"A Preliminary Assessment of Environmental Impacts from
Oil Shale Development," TRW/DRI (July 1977)
"Energy from the West: A Progress Report of a Technology
Assessment of Western Energy Resource Development," 3 Vol,
University of Oklahoma, Radian Corporation (July 1977)
"Oil Shale Research Overview," Cameron Engineers (May 1977)
"Interagency Energy/Environment R&D Program-Status Report
III," OEMI (April 1977)
PB-268-062/7BE "Water Requirements for Steam Electric Power Generation
and Synthetic Fuel Plants in Western U.S.," University of Oklahoma
(April 1977)
PB-266-256/7BE "Western Energy/Environment Monitoring Study: Planning
and Coordination Summary," EPA/OEMt (March 1977)
* Available through U.S. EPA, National Environment Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, (919) 549-8411.
** Available through the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce,
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151, (703) 321 -8654.
*** Not Available
E-1
-------
EPA No.
NTISNo.
Title and Date
E PA-600/7-77-015 PB-266-292/2BE
E PA-600/2-76-177b
E PA-600/7-76-004b
E PA-600/7-76-004a
PB-260-475/9BE
PB-255-995/AS
PB-255-994/AS
E PA-600/2-76-064 PB-252-649/AS
E P A-600/5-76-001 PB-252-034/AS
EPA-600/2-75-070
E PA-650/2-74-099
EPA-660/2-74-667
EPA-R-3-73-011a
EPA-TR-76-74
EPA-TR-76-54
EPA-TR-76-80
PB-247-140/AS
PB-241-942/AS
PB-236-608/AS
PB-221-343
PB-259-070-T/BE
PB-258-920-T/BE
"Monitoring Environmental Impacts of the Coal and Oil Shale
Industries: Research and Development Needs," Radian Cor-
poration (February 1977)
"Fuel Contaminants: Vol. 2., Removal Technology Evaluations,"
Battelle Columbus Labs {September 1976)
"Impact of Synthetic Liquid Fuels Development Automotive
Market: Vol. 2.," Stanford Research Institute (July 1976)
"Impact of Synthetic Liquid Fuel Development Automotive
Market Vol. 1, Summary," Stanford Research Institute (June
1976)
"Atmospheric Pollution Potential from Fossil Fuel Resource
Extraction, On-Site Processing and Transportation," Radian
Corporation (March 1976)
"First Year Work Plan for a Technological Assessment of Western
Energy Resource Development," University of Oklahoma
(March 1976)
"EPA Program Status Report: Synthetic Fuels Program," Stan-
ford Research Institute (October 1975)
"Environmental Considerations for Oil Shale Development,"
Battelle Columbus Labs (October 1974)
"Pollutional Problems and Research Needs for an Oil Shale
Industry," EPA, Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab-
oratory (J une 1974)
"Effects of Chemical Variations in Aquatic Environments - Vol. 1:
Biota and Chemistry of Piceance Creek," Colorado State Uni-
versity (February 1973)
"Some Data on the Composition of Neutral Oxygen Compounds
of Estonian Shale Resins which Boil Under 200°C," USSR (1972)
"The Carcinogenic Properties of Oil Shale Products and the
Possibilities of Prophylaxis Cancer," Institute of Experimental
and Clinical Medicine, Tartusk State University, USSR (1972)
PB-258-790-T/BE "Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Generator Shale Resin," USSR (1971)
E-2
-------
INDEX
Aeromet, Inc., 16
Anvil Points, 9,11,13, 21
Aquatic Biology, 15
Atmosphere, 9,13,16,18-20
Ball State University, 19, 22
Cameron Engineers, 13,15
Carcinogenesis, 20-24
CDM Limnetics, 16
Colorado State University, 9-11
Denver Research Institute, 13
Development Engineering, Inc., 9,13
EMSL-Las Vegas, 16,19
, Environmental Impacts, 13,15,25
EPA Region VIII, 16
ERL- Athens, 16
ERL- Duluth, 15
ERL-Gulf Breeze, 19, 20
ERL - Kerr Laboratory, 15
Fugitive Dust, 9
General Electric, 16
Geochemistry, 13,17,18
Green River Formation, 1,17,18
Groundwater, 16,17
Gulf South Research Institute, 18
HERL - Research Triangle Park, 19,20, 22
I ERL - Research Triangle Park, 20
IERL-Cincinnati, 9,10,11,13
Instrumentation, 18
In Vitro, 22-24
In Vivo, 20-22
Laramie Energy Research Center, 13
Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, 19,20,23
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, 19, 21, 23, 24
Minerals, 15,17
National Bureau of Standards, 16,18
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, 19, 21
Northern Great Plains, 9,19
Northrop Services, 19,22
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 19,20,22,24
Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry, 1,13,
15,16
Oil Shale Work Group, 3,4
Parachute Creek, 17
Paraho, 9,13
Piceance Creek Basin, 17
Radian Corporation, 25
Revegetation, 9-11
Socioeconomics, 25
Surface Water, 17
TEMPO, 16
TOSCO, 10
Toxicity, 20-23
TRW, Inc., 9-13
UCLA School of Medicine, 19, 24
Uinta Basin, 16
University of Arizona, 16
University of Oklahoma, 25
U.S. Bureau of Mines, 10,21
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 9,25
U.S. Geological Survey, 17
Waste, 18
Water, 9,13,15-20
Yellow Creek Basin, 17
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse bcfnrf completing)
l.HLPORTNO. 2.
EPA-600/7-78-020
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
4. TITLE and SUBTITLt
EPA Program S+a+us Report: Oi1 Shale
' REPORT DATE
February 1978
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7.AUTHOR1S)
L. Ecks+ein
fl. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Cameron Engineers, Inc.
1315 So. Clarkson Street
Denver, Colorado 80210
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
11 CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
68-01-4337
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
1.1. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/17
T6. SUPPLF.Mf NTAHY NOTES
EPA Contacts: Mr. William N. McCarthy, Jr. (202)-755-2737
j Mr. Terry Thoem (303)-837-59l4
"lV ABSTRACT
This report provides the reader with an overview of current oil
shale research and development (R&D) efforts being performed by EPA,
| or being funded by EPA monies passed-through to other Federal agencies
under the Interagency Ehergy/Environment R&D Program. Chapter 1 in-
troduces the reader to the purpose, background, and rationale behind
EPA's efforts; Chapter 2 discusses the EPA program goals and fiscal
year 1977 program funding; and, Chapter 3 presents the scope-of-work
for 55 ongoing projects. A table at the end of Chapter 3 summarizes
these projects by presenting project title, sponsoring agency, per-
forming organization, and project duration.
*
>?• KEY WORDS ANO DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
J DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
Air Pollution Land Reclamation
¦ Assessments Mining
Drainage Monitoring
Ecology Pollution
Ecosystems Resources Management
Environmental Health Socioeconomic Factors
Environmental Protection Synthetic Fuels
Environmental Surveys Tests
Fossil Fuels Water Pol 1utIon
Anvil Points Ple«nc«
Caimron EnglnMri, Inc. R»dl»n Corp.
COM Llfimrflcs TOSCO
Colorado TRW
S«n«r«l Elaetrlc Uln+ah
Graan Rl v«r Form*t Ion Utah
P»r»ho Wyoming
04B, 06P
06A 06T
06C 08H
06E 081
06F I3B
06J
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release Unlimited
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
20. SECURITY CI.ASS (This pup)
Unci ass If led
22. PRICE
rPA Form aajo-i <»-73)
------- |