"Oil shale is a fine grained marlstone sediment rich in hydrocarbon derivatives. The hydrocarbon material kerogen, produces a synthetic oil or gas upon pyrolysis or retorting. This synthetic oil or gas is the largest untapped fossil fuel resource in the nation. The western resource, which is more than 80 percent federally owned, is estimated to be equivalent to more than two trillion barrels of crude oil. Commercial production of liquid fuels from oil shale began in France in 1838. In Canada and the United States, commercial shale oil production was originated in the mid-1850s. Commercial shale oil production has also existed at various times in Australia, U.S.S.R., Spain, Sweden, China, Germany, and the Republic of South Africa. In each case, except the U.S.S.R. and China, the industry ended because of its inability to compete with abundant and inexpensive petroleum fuels. Although U.S. industry has been involved in oil shale R&D for many years, it is still reluctant to undertake full scale commercial development due to both institutional and technological barriers. The primary institutional barrier, as perceived by industry, centers around the high degree of uncertainty concerning competing fuel costs. Technological barriers, which are inhibiting commercial oil shale operations, include process economics, process performance and reliability , materials availability, and environmental constraints. There is little question that the commercial application of oil shale technologies will be dependent upon the resolution of these barriers. This plan describes the Department of Energy (DOE) research, development, and demonstration program that is being implemented to support commercial oil shale operations. This plan describes the oil shale RD&D activities for a multiyear time frame with emphasis placed upon developing an activity baseline which establishes project direction, resource requirements, and expected activity accomplishments. The plan will al so serve as the basis for developing and justifying upcoming budget requests."