Washington, D.C. – Pete Domenici, Chairman of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, will lead a congressional delegation on a two-day tour of oil shale facilities in Colorado and Utah and chair a field hearing on oil shale in Grand Junction Colorado. The field hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, in the auditorium at Grand Junction City Hall, 250 North 5th Street, Grand Junction, CO. Senators Orrin Hatch and Ken Salazar will participate in the hearing and join the parts of the tour taking place in their respective states.

The media will have several opportunities Wednesday and Thursday to interview the senators and tour some of the facilities.

The first media availability will be Wednesday afternoon at 12:45 p.m. at Shell Exploration’s Mahogany Project near Rifle, CO. Because the location is remote and on private property, Shell representatives will meet the media at 11:30 a.m. at the Rio Blonco Store on Highway 13 between Rifle and Mecker at County Road 5 (Piceance Creek Road). Shell will caravan with the media to the mahogany site. The caravan leaves promptly at 11:45 p.m.

At the Mahogany facility, there will be a photo op and media availability with Chairman Domenici and Senator Salazar from 12:45 to 1 p.m. Shell will provide press with a tour of the facility at 1 p.m. Box lunches will be provided. Closed-toe-shoes are recommended. For questions please contact Shell Public affairs Representative Jill Davis 303-241-6397.

The second media availability will be immediately following the field hearing at approximately 11:30 a.m. in the auditorium of the Grand Junction City Hall.

The third media availability will be at 3 p.m. at the gates of the White River Mine. Following the 15-minute press availability, the BLM will provide a tour of the mine to interested media. The mine can be reached by traveling to Vernal, UT, then from the intersection of US Highway 40 and State Highway 45, proceeding south on Highway 45 for approx 40 miles, pass the town site of Bonanza. Cross over the White River bridge and proceed on pavement through a double gate of chain link fence. The pavement will end and be replaced by a gravel road. Proceed to the mine facility, following posted directions from that point.