From the Wednesday, February 27, 2008 online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
The announcement by British Petroleum last week that it was dropping plans to drill for coal-bed methane in the Canadian Flathead was cause for celebration for just about everyone in Montana downstream of the proposed project. But BP’s pullback only underscores the ongoing proposals to mine and drill in the area that remain.
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From the Thursday, February 21, 2008 online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
With the peaks of Glacier National Park visible through the window, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus told a crowd at Flathead Valley Community College Thursday that British Petroleum is dropping its plans for coal-bed methane exploration in the headwaters of the North Fork of the Flathead River in British Columbia. Baucus said he received a phone call earlier in the day from Robert Malone, chairman and president of BP America, informing him that the company was backing off.
“I think it’s basically because we all worked very hard to prevent that from happening,” Baucus said. “I take this very personally.”
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From the Tuesday, January 15, 2008 online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
Canadian regulators say potential coal and gas projects north of Glacier National Park face many hurdles, including regulatory review.
Montana officials have criticized potential development of a coal mine and a coal-bed methane operation in southeastern British Columbia. On Tuesday, the Montana Legislature’s Environmental Quality Council invited Canadian officials to provide their perspective at a meeting in Helena.
British Columbia officials reiterated the projects have not begun clearing regulatory hurdles. Garry Alexander of the province’s Environmental Assessment Office said the government will conduct a “comprehensive” evaluation.
Other Canadian regulators, speaking by conference call, said Montana agencies and residents will have an opportunity to comment on plans as they move forward. Proposed projects often are modified during the permit process, the regulators said.
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From the Tuesday, September 11, 2007 online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
In a Washington D.C. meeting with executives for British Petroleum, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., issued his harshest rebukes yet for BP’s coalbed methane exploration proposal in the Canadian Flathead, according to a release sent from his office Monday afternoon. Baucus also called for public meetings in Kalispell to allow Montanans to weigh in on the project.
BP can expect “a knock-down, drag-out fight” and “a massive and unpleasant fight from Montana that will end badly” Baucus told BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone and BP Canada chief Randy McLeod, according to the release.
Baucus’s threats refer specifically to BP’s intent to file an exploratory permit for what it calls its “Mist Mountain” coalbed methane (CBM) extraction project in southeastern British Columbia.
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