U.S. Water News Online
WASHINGTON -- Three Wyoming environmental groups have filed suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers alleging the agency failed to adequately study the effects of small reservoirs built by coal bed methane companies.
The suit claims that the Corps' general permit allowing drillers to construct in-channel reservoirs and ponds is leading to groundwater and stream contamination.
The Wyoming Outdoor Council, the Powder River Basin Resource Council and Biodiversity Associates have filed suit in Washington, D.C.
The groups say the agency should have prepared a detailed study of the environmental effects of the reservoirs and allowed the public to comment before issuing the permit.
The reservoirs were built to temporarily retain water discharged from methane wells.
The environmentalists said the reservoirs prevent natural run-off from reaching downstream users and allow possibly polluted water from wells to mix with and taint run-off. In addition, the groups said, the ponds can leak contaminants into groundwater.
``By issuing a general permit, the Corps of Engineers is treating these reservoirs like stock watering ponds,'' said Steve Jones, of the outdoor council. ``But they contain contaminated water from coal bed methane wells and are more like wastewater treatment ponds than livestock ponds.''
Tom Johnson of the Corps office in Cheyenne, an author of the permit, was unavailable for comment.
Jill Morrison, of the resource council, said the ponds, which are less than one-tenth of an acre, can potentially contaminate aquifers and harm vegetation downstream.
Seven years ago, 110 wells were tapping methane trapped in Wyoming's coal seams.
Since then, as a result of cheaper drilling techniques and higher natural gas prices, more than 12,000 wells have been drilled. Most are in northeast Wyoming's Powder River Basin. Another 8,000 have been permitted for drilling.
Coal bed methane provides nearly 8 percent of the nation's reserve of natural gas, more than quadrupling its share since 1989.
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