Baucus, Tester expect 'knock-down, drag-out fight' in BP mining
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News
Both Montana Senators continue to rally against plans for coal bed methane and coal mining in the Canadian Flathead.
Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester both met with British Petroleum officials last week on the company’s plans for CBM exploration north of the border.
Baucus said BP can expect “a knock-down, drag-out fight.”
Baucus met with BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone and BP Canada chief Randy McLeod.
Tester met with BP officials as well in Washington.
His rhetoric was a bit more toned down than Baucus but he too has grave concerns about energy exploration in the area. Tester said BP officials said they wouldn’t ruin the environment with CBM drilling.
“But I don’t believe that,” he said.
He drew an analogy to his own farm. If he does something that impacts his neighbors in a bad way, then he’s got some problems. BP’s actions could pollute the waters of the Flathead and Elk Rivers, he noted, which run into the U.S.
But Tester said BP has been progressive in some areas as an energy company, and he thought his message that the Flathead was the most pristine river in North America got through to them.
What worried him, he noted, was that BP officials said the province of British Columbia contacted them about developing CBM in the Flathead, not the other way around.
In that case, Tester said, it’s time to ramp up political pressure on the Canadian and provincial governments.
“It’s time to get the state Department involved, no doubt about that,” Tester said.
The Cline Mining Company is also looking at developing an open pit coal mine in the Foisey Creek drainage, which forms the headwaters of the Flathead.
Last week, Baucus and Tester asked Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. to allow Montana scientist to take part in a federal environmental assessment of the projects. Under Canada’s Environmental Assessment Act, officials can convene a so-called “joint review panel” so an affected state or country can have a seat at the table when the analysis is taking place.
Tester said during a conference call on Tuesday he hadn’t heard back from the Canadian government on the matter.
“At this point we are reviewing the letter,” Tristan Landry, spokesman for Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson’s office said.
Landry said the office had no further comment.
The Canadian Flathead becomes the North Fork of the Flathead when it enters the U.S. In Canada it is uninhabited, but also has no far reaching protections.
In the U.S., the river is protected by a myriad of laws, as it forms the western boundary of Glacier National Park and prime hunting grounds on the Flathead National Forest to the west.
“Some places should be off limits,” Baucus said. “It’s that simple. Some places are too important to hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.”