CBM company violated water permit 132 times
State environmental officials say a coal-bed methane company has violated its water quality permit 132 times over the last two years.
The violations involved failed toxicity tests performed on water discharged into the Tongue River by Fidelity Exploration and Production, a Denver-based company that is a subsidiary of Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group.
Those tests involved putting fleas into water that is pumped out of the ground during coal-bed methane production. Enough fleas died to show that the water was toxic.
However, minnows placed in the same water samples did not die, and what toxin was causing the deaths has not been determined.
Storm Cat files for Bankruptcy Protection
Storm Cat Energy, who was developing the CBM lease north of Elkford in the Elk Valley has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
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PITTSBURGH, Nov 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Michael Baker Corporation (NYSE Alternext US:BKR) today provided the following response to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of one of its Energy segment’s managed services clients, Storm Cat Energy (USA).
Tell Premier Campbell you support a 10 year moratorium on CBM development in BC
Recently 6 BC environmental groups with the support of the First Nations of BC have requested that Premier Campbell place a 10 year moratorium on CBM development in BC. The Union of BC Municipalities is also asking for a halt to CBM development in the Sacred Headwaters, adding to their previously ignored request for a moratorium.
Click here to take action - http://cccbm.org/take-action-write-e-mail
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Municipalities, First Nations reject coalbed methane in BC
Back-to-back resolutions against CBM send message to Campbell—will he listen?
The movement against coalbed methane (CBM) development in the province got another boost from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) and can now count the B.C. First Nations Summit as an “active member”.
In back-to-back resolutions in September, both groups denounced further CBM development in the province. (The Province of B.C. actively solicits CBM tenure applications from petroleum corporations—see http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/OG/Pages/default.aspx.)
BC First Nations Vote Unanimously for 10-Year Coalbed Methane Moratorium
The First Nations Summit has just passed a resolution calling for a 10-year moratorium on all coalbed methane (CBM) drilling in the province of BC. The resolution comes on the heels of a similar one passed yesterday by the Union of BC Municipalities.
“The coalbed methane industry is infringing on aboriginal title and rights all over British Columbia,” said Debbie Pierre, Executive Director of the Office of the Wet’suwet’en. “Our wildlife and wild salmon are threatened, and we are calling on Gordon Campbell to halt all drilling until we have a better approvals system in place.”
Stop drilling, B. C. mayors urge Shell
Coal-Bed Methane; Province to take resolution 'under consideration'
British Columbians ratcheted up their opposition to a proposed Shell Canada Ltd. coal-bed methane project yesterday as a group of mayors unanimously approved a resolution demanding Premier Gordon Campbell halt the company's drilling.
At the same time, environmental groups are preparing to petition the B. C. government for a 10-year moratorium on all development of the unconventional gas resource, which has provoked anger -- and even one First Nations blockade of drilling equipment --in the province.
