CBM Water

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/03/24/news/state/52-cbm-injection.txt">CBM water injection rejected"</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Water drawn from aquifers as part of coalbed methane production does not have to be injected back into the ground, a state board decided Thursday, rejecting a push by some ranchers in eastern Montana.<br />n<br />nProposals to place new requirements on the young coalbed methane industry, which extracts natural gas from coal seams, dominated a meeting of the Montana Board of Environmental Review.<br />n<br />nBesides defeating the proposal to require water injection, the board adopted requirements intended to limit the release of salty water into rivers and streams.</blockquote><br />n<br />nRe-injection is out but limits on realse of water is in. GOOD.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>Board of Environmental Review Chairman Joe Russell said requiring injection might exceed the board's authority. Another board member, Bill Rossbach, said it is not clear that injection is practical from a technical standpoint.<br />n<br />nActing on another proposed rule, the board repealed an exemption to Montana's policy on nondegradation of water. The action is intended to narrow the coalbed methane industry's opportunity to release salty water into rivers and streams.<br />n<br />nDavid Searle of Marathon Oil Co. said water-quality data do not indicate the board's action was warranted.</blockquote><br />n<br />nIf, the "water-quality data do not indicate the board's action was warranted" is the case, why does the CBM companies such as Marathon Oil fight it so hard? Because the action is warranted to keep our streams clean. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. Lets do this right.<br />n<br />n<b>The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. Mark Twain</b>