Coal Bed Methane

Welcome to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality coal bed methane web site.

This web site, created in February 2001, provides information about coal bed methane (CBM) in Montana and northeastern Wyoming. In particular, it gives information about a recently completed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyses the potential impacts of proposed oil and gas development, including CBM.  The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC), and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were lead agencies for this project.  The DRAFT Environmental Impact Statement was issued in January 2002 and the FINAL version was completed in January 2003.

Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts
Due to CBNG Water Treatment Activities in the
Powder River Basin of Montana

Powder River Gas Permit
To review the final environmental assessment, technical reports and response to comments on the environmental assessment, go to the Bureau of Land Management, Miles City Field Office web site.

REPORT: Montana State University Southeast Montana Soil Assessment. Rainfall induced dispersion and hydraulic conductivity reduction under low SAR x EC combinations in smectite-dominated soils of eastern Montana

REPORT: EC/SAR Study by the USDA Laboratory Using Montana Soils and Cropping Practices

Web Site Feedback Wanted:  This web site will be updated frequently to make it more useful and complete. If you have suggestions contact Lisa Peterson by e-mail or by telephone (406) 444-2929.