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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2001

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana has proposed standards affecting use of water on the reservation for a number of purposes.

The tribe will be holding public hearings on the standards, including one in Billings on January 24, 2002 Public comments are also being accepted until February 3.

The standards would affect water usage for drinking, water, wildlife, recreation and other purposes. In conjunction with a joint environmental impact statement on coalbed methane being prepared by the state of Montana and the Bureau of Land Management, the tribe hopes to finalize them by the summer of 2002.

On that note, the BLM said it would delay the draft EIS until February 2002. It had been expected this month.

Separately, Region 8 of the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing standards affecting water discharge of coalbed methane drilling. The regulations will apply to Indian Country, should tribes allow development.

Get the Story:
Tribe proposes water quality rules (The Billings Gazette 12/20)
Methane study delayed (The Billings Gazette 12/20)

Relevant Links:
Coalbed Methane, Region 8 - http://www.epa.gov/region08/water/
wastewater/npdeshome/cbm/cbm.html

Related Stories:
Suspension sought for coalbed leasing (10/17)
Wyo. approves methane generator policy (10/12)
N.D. eyed for methane production (10/4)
Methane standards to affect tribes (9/26)