State and federal regulators issue draft EIS for Montana coalbed methane production

State and federal regulators have issued a draft environmental impact statement for coalbed methane development in south-central and southeastern Montana. The preferred alternative would require operators to submit a plan of development and plan for handling water generated during coalbed methane production

Feb. 27, 2002

2 min read

By the OGJ Online Staff

WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 26 --State and federal regulators have issued a draft environmental impact statement for coalbed methane development in south-central and southeastern Montana.

The preferred alternative recommended by the Department of the Interior'sBureau of Land Management would require operators to submit a plan of development and plan for handling water generated during coalbed methane production, the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States said. BLM also wants water from production recycled for irrigation or livestock watering.

The EIS assumes 10,000-26,000 wells will be drilled in the region and could include 4,000 wells on Indian lands. The deadline for comments is May 15; five public meetings are scheduled before then across the state. A final EIS is anticipated in the summer.

In a related effort, Region 8 of the US Environmental Protection Agency Region and the Montana and Wyoming departments of environmental quality received comments by industry, landowners, and other stakeholders on the surface discharge of coalbed methane water..

IPAMS said regulators may try to apply water quality regulations originally intended for conventional oil and gas to "relatively new" coalbed methane production. The agencies' analysis will also help determine whether reinjection and other water containment methods are suitable in some areas, IPAMS officials said.

The association said industry prefers to continue using the surface discharge method under an EPA guideline that allows for "best professional judgment." But several ranchers said they are worried that guideline allows too many permits to be issued that circumvent regulations intended to protect existing land uses.