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Bozeman-area landowners showed support for CMB regulations

By WALT WILLIAMS, Chronicle Staff Writer

HELENA - Pleading with lawmakers to protect their property rights, Bozeman-area landowners descended on the capital Friday to support two bills further regulating coalbed methane development.


 "The state oil and gas (industry) has demonstrated, in recent hearings, a complete disregard for the individual's property rights," Dick Clotfelter of Bozeman said.

At issue were Senate bills 240 and 248, sponsored by Sen. Emily Stonington, D-Bozeman, who said both would bring "balance" to negotiations between surface land owners and people who hold underground mineral rights.

SB 240 would require oil and gas operators to enter into "good-faith negotiations" with landowners before extracting minerals from their properties. The final agreement must lay out what compensation for damages the property owner is entitled too.

The bill "will give the surface owner a little more say in how minerals are developed under their property," Stonington told the Senate Natural Resources Committee during Friday's hearing.

SB 248 would require that coalbed methane well operators set aside money to restore any land damaged during extraction, with operators having to pay at least $10,000 for each well.

Opponents from the oil and gas industries said all that both bills really do is kill the coalbed methane industry in Montana.

They argued that SB 240 was essentially useless, since oil and gas companies already negotiate with surface owners to extract minerals.

All it does, they said, is take away their property rights to the minerals while claiming to protect those of the surface owner.

Large crowds on both sides filled the committee's chambers - bill supporters distinct in blue jeans, sweaters and sports jackets; opponents wearing three-piece suits.

Both sides were given just 20 minutes to address each bill, but with the follow-up questions by committee members, the hearing on SB 240 alone dragged on for nearly two hours.

No action was taken on either bill.

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