DENVER -- The Bush administration unveiled Tuesday a new, controversial plan for oil shale development in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, saying it believes the plan promotes energy independence.

Gov. Bill Ritter immediately criticized the proposal as "premature, unnecessary and irresponsible."

After months of debate, the Department of the Interior posted regulations to explore and develop oil shale sites in the Western states. Congress has imposed a moratorium on oil shale development, but the White House is asking members of Congress to overturn that ban in September.

Experts believe 800 billion gallons of oil can be recovered from the Green River Basin, which is mostly owned by the federal government.

For 60 years, scientists have known that oil can be extracted out of oil shale. But the technology has always been too expensive and environmentally damaging.

But Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne said times and opinions are changing.

"As Americans pay more than $4 for a gallon of gasoline and watch energy prices continue to climb higher and higher, we need to be doing more to develop our own energy here at home, through resources such as oil shale," he said. "I think the American families instead are saying let's start taking care of our own. Let's produce some of these significant resources that are here."

Critics doubt that new technologies will live up to promises now being made.

"It looks like a very bad economic and environmental bargain," said Karin Sheldon, with Western Resource Advocate. "No matter how you do it, there will be severe environmental effects."

Kempthorne argues that a balance between energy needs and the environment is possible.

The new rules and regulations call for oil shale leases to be issued by 2012 and production to begin by 2016. It's a close call as to whether these regulations will get through Congress. If they do, there will be a 60-day window for public comment.