The Interior Department today announced a final rule that will open almost 2 million acres of land in Western states to oil shale development. Environmentalists say oil shale development, which involves extracting liquid oil from solid rock by heating it, increases greenhouse gas emissions and requires intensive water use. Interior's Bureau of Land Management fast-tracked the rule when it realized a ban on oil shale development was set to expire. Congress failed to renew the ban which expired Oct. 1. BLM proposed the rule in July and, after the public comment period closed, began moving with great haste to ensure the rule would be final by the time President Bush leaves office. On Nov. 3, BLM sent a draft of a final rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget for the customary review period. OMB approved the rule Nov. 7 — just four days later. The average review time is about two months. Today, BLM announced that it would make eligible for leasing approximately 1.9 million acres of land in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. The agency touted the move as a way to increase America's energy independence. But meaningful production is not just around the corner. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, an Interior Department spokesman "acknowledged any commercial operation could be five to 10 years away. It 'won't be technically viable for several years,' he said." In the meantime, we'll be seeing only downsides, according to the environmental group Earthjustice:

• "Even the most advanced oil shale technology will create 20-45% more global warming pollution per gallon of gasoline compared to conventional gasoline. The cruder approaches that rely on strip mining shale will generate twice as much carbon dioxide per gallon as gasoline.
• "Oil shale removal will require vast quantities of water -- up to 300 million gallons a day -- in a drought-parched West that has barely enough to sustain agriculture, cattle raising and human consumption. That's at least 3 to 5 gallons of water for every gallon of gasoline produced.
• "It could also destroy up to two million acres of prime wildlife habitat that supports economies throughout Colorado, Utah and Wyoming."

The rule will officially go into effect Jan. 17, 2009 — just three days before President Bush leaves office. Since the rule will be in effect, the Obama administration will be unable to revoke or otherwise impact the rule. Pretty convenient.