According to the Denver Post, BLM director Bob Abbey favors a "common-sense approach to oil shale that encourages research and development first."
The plan has the support of Colorado agricultural, municipal, and recreation industry leaders as well as Colorado Senator Michael Bennet. But, not so much the American Petroleum Institute or Rio Blanco County Commissioner Ken Parsons who is concerned about jobs and energy independence.
The draft programmatic environmental impact statement is open for public comment until May 4th at http://ostseis.anl.gov./documents/peis2012/index.cfm

Are there enough safeguards for the public when problems arise during oil and gas drilling?