Efforts to develop the nation's vast oil shale resources have been of concern since the Synthetic Fuels Act in 1944. Beginning with this act, the U.S. Government has taken a number of steps to stimulate the development of an oil shale industry. An extensive research program was conducted by the Bureau of Mines that led to the development of the gas combustion retorting process. The gas combustion retorting process was the forerunner of the Paraho retorting process currently being developed at Anvil Points and the Petro SIX retorting process being developed in six lease tracts for the development of oil shale.