From the Wednesday, August 11, 2004 issue of the Missoulian . . .
Montana's lone congressional representative has asked federal officials in both Canada and the United States to interrupt British Columbia's sale of coalbed methane fields, pending substantial environmental study.
Republican Denny Rehberg sent letters Tuesday to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew, asking that they work together to implement an international study before the gas leases are sold on Aug. 25.
Previously, both of Montana's senators requested similar upfront study, and Gov. Judy Martz petitioned Ottawa to intervene in the provincial plans. The Flathead Basin Commission - made up of federal, state and tribal agency leaders - also asked for upfront data collection, as did the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and the town of Fernie, British Columbia.
"The date is looming and this may be our last resort," Rehberg said of his request for study by the International Joint Commission. "Gov. Martz last month urged Canada to study the impact of methane drilling before allowing exploratory development so close to the headwaters of the Flathead River, but her common sense request has been ignored."
At issue are potential gas fields north of Glacier National Park, as well as fields above Koocanusa Reservoir. Downstream interests worry that methane production in British Columbia could impact Montana water quality and migration routes for wildlife.
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