By Laura Lundquist The Bureau of Land Management should not only require a better return on coal leases for U.S. taxpayers but also work harder to balance coal production against the growing threat of climate change, according to a new Department of the Interior report. On Wednesday, the BLM released an exhaustive report on the federal coal […]
WITH AUDIO By Eric Tegethoff BILLINGS, Mont. — A new report from the Bureau of Land Management highlights the many issues with the federal coal production program. The report, released Wednesday, said the way coal mines are leased on public lands is in need of reform, and the program in its current form isn’t giving taxpayers a fair […]
Western Organization of Resource Councils BILLINGS, Mont. – Members of the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) applauded the Bureau of Land Management’s release today of a key report in its programmatic review of the federal coal program. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the review a year ago in response to calls from […]
WITH VIDEO By Jay Kohn KTVQ TV Jan. 3, 2017 BILLINGS – More controversy on Tuesday in the effort to build a new coal export terminal in Longview, Wash. Washington State Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark denied a sublease request by developer Millennium Bulk Terminals, in essence refusing to allow the state’s aquatic lands to be used for […]
By Western Organization of Resource Councils BILLINGS, Mont. – Today, the Department of Interior and Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement released the final Stream Protection Rule. The rule, which is designed to prevent water degradation by utilizing the best available science and technology, marks the first national update to water protections from coal […]
The Board of Oil and Gas Conservation is the regulatory body that issues permits to drill oil and gas wells in Montana. Their job is to ensure that companies play by the rules when they drill in our state, and “prevent oil and gas operations from harming nearby land or underground resources” (from the BOGC […]
New rule increases transparency in Montana oil industry Northern Plains Resource Council Today, the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation voted 4-3 to adopt a rule requiring oil and gas operators to notify landowners within ¼ mile of a proposed oil or gas well. With the adoption of this rule, notification of neighboring landowners […]
Dec. 14, 2016 Montanans place a high value on their right to know what their government is doing. The Montana Board of Oil and Gas has the opportunity at its meeting today in Billings to ensure that owners of “occupied structures” receive written notice before the board permits drilling within a quarter mile of the […]
WITH AUDIO A Montana conservation group says it expects a special environmental protection agreement it signed with Stillwater Mining to remain in effect after the sale of the company, which was finalized today. In 2000, previous company owners signed a “good neighbor agreement” with Billings-based Northern Plains Resource Council. The agreement lays out specific environmental […]
By Erik Olson Stillwater Mining Co. announced Friday a deal to sell to a South African mining company for $2.2 billion, which would effectively end Stillwater’s two-decade run as a publicly-traded firm. Sibanye Gold Limited agreed to pay $18 per share in cash for Columbus-based Stillwater, Montana’s largest mining company. The deal is expected to […]