Great News for the Flathead! British Petroleum Scraps its Plan for Coalbed Methane Exploration

If you’ve tuned into Congressional Watch over the past few months, you’ve read about the controversy over British Petroleum’s (BP) longstanding proposal to develop coalbed methane in the Canadian Flathead wilderness, just north of Montana’s Glacier National Park.

We are happy to report that on February 21st, BP announced it’s dropping the plan!
 
Both Senator Baucus and Senator Tester and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer convened a town hall meeting in Kalispell to discuss coal and coal-bed methane proposals north of the border.  Just before the meeting, BP Company chairman and president, Bob Malone, called Senator Baucus to relay the terrific news that his company dropped its plans to pursue the right to explore for coalbed methane gas across 200 square miles of British Columbia, just north of the Montana border. 

Both senators were joined in opposition to the British Columbia energy projects by Congressman Dennis Rehberg.  Senator Baucus, in particular, was a vocal and ardent opponent of the BP plan and lead the effort to halt the coalbed methane project. 

Two decades ago, a bi-national panel of scientists determined that coal mining would severely affect downstream waters and advised against mining projects.  Flathead Valley residents have likewise been concerned over the impacts of energy development to water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and tourism in the area. 

British Petroleum is not completely dropping its energy proposal, however.  The company stated it would go ahead with coalbed methane exploration proposals in the Elk River Valley, which is adjacent to the Northfork of the Flathead River Valley and drains into Montana’s Koocanusa Reservoir. 

Senator Baucus, who is similarly outspoken in his opposition to the proposed Cline Mine Corporation coal development plan across the border from Glacier National Park - which Congressional Report has tracked - said he will now focus on fighting that project - and on BP’s proposal in the Elk River drainage.

Governor Schweitzer joined the entire Montana congressional delegation in his opposition to energy development in the Flathead region and voiced concern over the Kootenai proposal as well.   Congressional Watch will keep you posted on BP’s Kootenai proposal and the Cline Mine plan. 

In the meantime, please contact Senator Max Baucus and thank him for his terrific leadership to protect the Flathead drainage and Glacier National Park from coalbed methane development! 

Please contact Senator Tester and Congressman Dennis Rehberg to thank them for opposing these ill-conceived energy proposals.
 
To read a full report on the recent energy developments, See: “BP drops Flathead coal-bed plan” by Michael Jamison of the Missoulian.