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FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2002

The Bureau of Land Management in Montana is looking into a recent ruling which overturned coalbed methane drilling leases in Wyoming.

Montana is beginning to tap into the burgeoning gas market. In Wyoming, drilling has been occurring for some time.

Both states are considered part of the Powder River Basin, where potential for coalbed development -- including on tribal lands -- is great. But environmentalists, ranchers and farmers are worried about the industry's practices.

Environmentalists successfully petitioned the Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals to invalidate the Wyoming leases, which covered 2,500 acres. Secretary Gale Norton could overturn the decision.

Get the Story:
Wyoming methane ruling may set precedent (The Billings Gazette 5/3)

Relevant Links:
Montana DEQ Coal Bed Methane Plan - http://www.deq.state.mt.us/coalbedmethane/index.asp
Coalbed Methane, Region 8 - http://www.epa.gov/region08/water/
wastewater/npdeshome/cbm/cbm.html

Related Stories:
Methane drilling study discussed (5/2)
Industry opposed to gas ruling (5/1)
Coalbed methane leases ruled illegal(4/30)
Griles accused of intimidation (4/25)
Coalbed methane drilling pushed (4/5)
Tribes host coalbed methane meetings (4/4)
Halt in methane drilling sought (2/21)
Coal methane plan released (2/20)
EPA meets with tribes on drilling (2/14)
Mont. tribe pushing water standards (1/23)
Mont. tribe developing water standards (12/20)
Methane standards to affect tribes (9/26)