Oil and gas development in Wyoming has been planned in a "piecemeal" fashion thus far, sometimes on a well-by-well basis, biologists and conservationists argued Friday.

Future, more responsible development calls for a much broader, science-based approach, they said.

Day two of the Responsible Energy Development Symposium, spearheaded by Trout Unlimited, featured presentations and discussions on reducing harm to wildlife and other natural resources, and reclaiming wild habitat during and after drilling and extraction is through.

The three-day gathering at Jackson Lake Lodge has drawn more than 180 participants so far. It concludes today with an all-day field trip to the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline natural gas fields in the Upper Green River Valley.

Bill Bennett Speaks about Coalbed Methane. He makes some blatantly untruthful statements about the BP Open House.

If you were at the open house you should write to him and ask him why he chose to lie about what happened at the open house that he didn't attend.

Experiment with coalbed methane (CBM) drilling at the expense of wildlife? Community members and scientists specializing in CBM impacts say the experiment is not worth the risk.

Research scientist from the University of Montana Erin Sexton states CBM drilling in wildlife-rich areas such as the Flathead and Elk Valleys will inevitably lead to loss of wildlife.

“It’s insincere for industry to claim that you can have commercial CBM and long-term wildlife populations. The two are not compatible,” says Sexton. “You can either have CBM operations or healthy wildlife populations, not both. It may not happen within the first five years, but over time, we’ll lose the wildlife.”

By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian

KALISPELL - Canadian politicians and industry remain keenly interested in coal-bed methane reserves north of Glacier National Park, despite an announcement last week that such plans were off the table.

“We are still very interested in the potential of the Canadian Flathead,” said Jessica Whiteside, spokesperson for BP Canada. Her company already has begun collecting environmental data there, in anticipation of energy development, “and we do plan to continue those environmental studies.”

By Gerry Warner
Townsman Staff
Environmentalists on both sides of the border are celebrating a decision by the BC government to exclude the Upper Flathead Valley from coalbed methane (CBM) drilling and exploration by British Petroleum (BP) Canada.

But the celebrations may be a little premature, according to Laurel Nash, executive director of the Oil and Gas Titles Branch.

In a Feb. 20 request for comments on BP’s plans, Nash says the Ministry is considering issuing BP a tenure agreement allowing it to explore for petroleum and natural gas in the Crowsnest Coalfield in the Elk River drainage near Fernie.