SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah regulators say a Utah company will delay an oil-shale development project for more groundwater studies.
An environmental group took credit for the delay. Moab-based Living Rivers says it’s challenging state approvals for company plans to bake oil shale inside giant clay ovens.
Living Rivers planned to challenge state mining approval for Red Leaf Resources Inc. at a hearing this week.
Utah Division of Oil, Gas & Mining spokesman Jim Springer says Red Leaf is pledging to do further hydrologic studies, avoiding the hearing for now.
Red Leaf has said it wanted to get started this year. It’s working state trust lands in eastern Utah. The company has yet to announce a new timeframe for the project.
Company CEO James Patten and Vice President Laura Nelson didn’t return a phone message left Wednesday by The Associated Press.
