Wyo council sides with ranchers in CBM water case
Posted: Mar 12, 2010 3:33 PM
Updated: Mar 12, 2010 3:33 PM
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) The Wyoming Environmental Quality Council has sided with a Powder River Basin ranching couple who contested a coal-bed methane water permit.
The permit was issued under rules withdrawn by the state and criticized by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The council sided 4-2 Thursday with Marge and Bill West, who contested a state permit held by Stephens Energy Company.
The Powder River Basin Resource Council, a Sheridan-based landowner group, says the ruling could have important consequences for Wyoming's entire coal-bed methane industry.
State officials question that. They say Wyoming no longer is issuing permits under the withdrawn rules and few people are contesting permits issued previously under those rules.
A task force is discussing new rules.
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