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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2002

A preservation group on Tuesday asked a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent the coalbed methane leasing and drilling in Montana.

The Northern Plains Resource Council alleged that continued drilling harms ranchers and farmers. The group wants a hearing to prevent the Department of Interior from allowing drilling in the southeastern part of the state.

The group filed its lawsuit last year. As part of the challenge, the Interior agreed to issue an environmental analysis on drilling, which it released this week.

Get the Story:
Court asked for halt to gas leasing (The Billings Gazette 2/21)

Relevant Links:
Montana DEQ Coal Bed Methane Plan - http://www.deq.state.mt.us/coalbedmethane/index.asp
Northern Plains Resource Council - http://www.nprcmt.org

Related Stories:
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)