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Task Force Mission
Section 369(h) of the Energy Policy Act (2005) directed the Secretary of Energy to form a Task Force to:- “… develop a program to coordinate and accelerate the commercial development of strategic unconventional fuels, including, but not limited to, oil shale and tar sands resources within the United States, in an integrated manner” [Sec 369(h)(1)], and to
- “ make such recommendations regarding promoting the development of the strategic unconventional fuels resources within the United States as it may deem appropriate” [Sec 369 (h)(3)]; and to
- “make recommendations with respect to initiating a partnership with the Province of Alberta Canada for purposes of sharing information relating to the development and production of oil from tar sands, and similar partnerships with other nations that contain significant oil shale resources”. [Sec 369 (h)(4)]
Task Force Charter
Declining domestic oil production and rising U.S. demand for oil increase the nation’s dependence on imports of foreign oil. This growing import dependence represents challenges to the strategic interests of the United States, particularly as global conventional oil production may soon fall short of global demand.
Significant opportunities exist for producing fuels from the nation’s vast unconventional resources, including: oil shale and tar sands, heavy oil, enhanced oil recovery, and coal-derived liquids. Domestic production of fuels from unconventional resources could reduce import dependence and the potential impacts and strategic risks posed by global oil supply and demand trends.
Directives From Congress
In Section 369 (h) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Congress directed the Secretary of Energy to establish a Task Force to:
“… develop a program to coordinate and accelerate the commercial development of strategic unconventional fuels, including, but not limited to, oil shale and tar sands resources within the United States, in an integrated manner” [Sec 369(h)(1)], and to “make such recommendations regarding promoting the development of the strategic unconventional fuels resources within the United States as it may deem appropriate” [Sec 369 (h)(3)]; and to
“make recommendations with respect to initiating a partnership with the Province of Alberta Canada for purposes of sharing information relating to the development and production of oil from tar sands, and similar partnerships with other nations that contain significant oil shale resources”. [Sec 369 (h)(4)] Congress further directed that:
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Task Force shall submit to the President and the Congress a report that describes the analyses and recommendations of the Task Force, and that
The Secretary shall provide an annual report describing the progress in developing the strategic unconventional fuels resources within the United States for each of the 5 years following submission of the [initial task force] report. [Sec 369 (h)(5)]