See also: http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2002/45/ma_149_01.html The New Range Wars
http://www.hcn.org/specialcollections/coalbedmethanenews.jsp Latest Coalbed Methane News from HCN ------ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/12/08/s tate1733EST7448.DTL Conservation group sues; says comment on methane project lacking BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press Writer Monday, December 8, 2003 (12-08) 14:33 PST BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- A conservation group is suing the Bureau of Land Management over a coal-bed methane project in southeastern Montana, saying the agency failed to involve the public in its decisions. The Northern Plains Resource Council is asking a federal court to keep the BLM from issuing permits to drill, approving methane development plans or authorizing other activities related to coal-bed methane development on certain federal leases near the Montana-Wyoming border until a more extensive study of possible environmental effects is done. Northern Plains also seeks public involvement in the process. In September, the BLM approved plans by Fidelity Exploration & Production Co. to drill 85 coal-bed methane wells near Decker as part of a larger expansion project planned by the firm. Northern Plains later asked the BLM state director, Marty Ott, to reverse the decision and suspend development pending a more complete environmental review. The group said it didn't have an opportunity to comment on an environmental assessment for the project, despite asking for notice and the chance to do so, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Billings. The BLM is still reviewing Northern Plains' appeal to Ott, spokesman Greg Albright said Monday. He said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not immediately comment on it. Jack Tuholske, an attorney for Northern Plains, said Monday the group has "bent over backward" to try informally resolving the matter. "Because this is the first of what will be many environmental assessments that will affect hundreds of landowners in Montana as they drill split-estate lands, it's absolutely important that the public be involved -- particularly when it will involve private farming and ranching operations," he said. Split-estate lands are those in which the mineral rights and surface rights are owned by different people. Albright has said information on applications for permit to drill and other notices are regularly posted in agency offices and online. Drilling for coal-bed methane involves the release of groundwater to relieve pressure that holds natural gas in coal seams. Some farmers, conservationists and others argue that the water released is often salty or of poor quality and could harm crops and other vegetation. Bruce Williams, vice president of operations with Fidelity, said the development is a gradual expansion out from existing wells. "We have valid permits from the Bureau of Land Management and are going ahead with development right now," he said. Williams said that, unless a judge decides otherwise, the lawsuit should have no immediate effect on operations. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/9bTolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuels at Journey to Forever http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html List messages are archived at the Info-Archive at NNYTech: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
