State to oppose Mont. tribe's drilling lawsuit

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2003

The state of Wyoming is opposing the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's coalbed methane lawsuit.

The tribe, based in Montana. is suing the Bureau of Land Management for allowing coalbed methane development in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming. Wyoming attorney general Patrick Crank said he will file a motion to intervene in the case.

The tribe is concerned that off-reservation development will hurt the environment. The suit alleges BLM failed to comply with federal law when it authorized new drilling.

Get the Story:
State sides with BLM in coalbed methane lawsuits (The Casper Star Tribune 5/16)

Relevant Links:
Interior Department Watchdog, Friends of the Earth - http://www.foe.org/camps/eco/interior/index.html 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

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