News Release

GOVERNOR MARTZ APPLAUDS BLM'S RECORD OF DECISION

4/30/2003
Todd O'Hair
406-444-3111
tohair@state.mt.us

GOVERNOR MARTZ APPLAUDS BLM'S RECORD OF DECISION

Helena-Governor Judy Martz said today that she is very pleased with the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Record of Decision (ROD) implementing the process for coal bed natural gas development on public lands in Montana.

The ROD for the Montana Statewide Oil and Gas Final EIS and Final Amendment of the Powder River and Billings Resource Management Plans was released to the public on Wednesday April 30, 2003.

"This is an important step forward for the responsible development of Montana's rich reserves of coal bed natural gas," said Martz. The Governor said that the BLM and other participating agencies followed the proper course of action and did a thorough evaluation of the impacts before choosing the alternative that will allow the coal bed methane development on BLM managed public lands.

Governor Martz said the state supports the BLM's action because thousands of comments from the public, environmental groups, industry, and irrigators were incorporated in the decision. She said it was vital to ensure that the citizens of Montana, including agricultural and recreational water users, would not be adversely affected by the development on the federally managed lands.

The ROD issued by the BLM is one of three final decision documents that must be completed. The Montana Board of Oil and Gas, which is responsible for issuing drilling permits and regulating production operations on private and State-owned lands, completed its ROD on March 26, 2003. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which is responsible for issuing water and air quality permits, is expected to issue its ROD late in May.

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