Vast quantities of gaseous and liquid fuels are potentially available from oil shales underlying about 17,000 mi. of land in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Recent advances in technology for utilizing the shales and predictions of increasing energy shortages are resulting in an upswing industry interest and activity with regard to potential production of fuels from oil shale. To encourage commercial development, a proto-type leasing program for government-administered oil shale lands is being considered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. If it is implemented the present program could result in a maximum production of 250,000-300,000 barrels of shale oil per day. It is further envisioned that production of as much as 1 X 10 6 bbl per day could result through extension of the program, if extension proves warranted, and through the stimulation afforded concurrent development of private lands. These factors and the increasing costs of importing fuels seem favorable to the early participation of shale oil as an energy form available in the United States.