BLM HEARINGS PROVOKE EARFUL ABOUT HARM FROM SALINE WATER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20, 2007

MILES CITY - Dozens of irrigators and conservationists told the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to take the time and do it right in developing coal bed methane in Montana's Powder River Basin.  Members of the Northern Plains Resource Council presented testimony calling for a slowed down and phased-in approach to coalbed methane development in response to BLM's Draft Supplemental Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) in Miles City.

The Miles City hearing, rescheduled from March 30 due to inclement weather, was the last in a series of 5 hearings on the DSEIS, which evaluates the effects of phased development of coalbed natural gas in southeastern Montana.

Hearings in Lame Deer and Miles City were decidedly different from the Billings, Broadus, and Hardin hearings. The Billings, Broadus, and Hardin hearings only allowed public comment in a private discussion with a court reporter. In Miles City and Lame Deer, participants convinced the BLM to let them get up and testify before the whole crowd.

"We have a legal right to comment publicly on this process," said Ray Muggli, Tongue River irrigator and Chair of Northern Plains' Coalbed Methane Task Force. "The future of my family's operation is threatened by coalbed methane development. I think that the public needs to know that, not just a court reporter."

The BLM prepared this supplement to comply with an Order of the U.S.
District Court in Montana, which found that the 2003 FEIS/RMP was inadequate because it failed to consider a phased-development alternative.  The Court remanded BLM to prepare a supplement to the 2003 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)/Resource Management Plan (RMP)to remedy this flaw.

Northern Plains hoped the BLM would take the opportunity provided by this Court decision to develop and adopt a preferred alternative that allows for responsible development of methane resources on federal lease parcels in Montana, while preventing unacceptable adverse impacts on other resource values in the region.

"Unfortunately, we do not believe that this has occurred," said Mark Fix, Tongue River rancher and Chair of the Northern Plains Resource Council.  "We want the BLM to take the time and do it right."

Citizens have an opportunity to submit comments on the draft supplemental EIS until May 2, 2007. The BLM will then issue a final supplemental environmental impact statement at a later date.

Comments may be submitted online and by mail.

http://www.blm.gov/eis/mt/milescity_seis/html/submit_comments.htm

ATTN: Mary Bloom, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 219, Miles City, MT
59301

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