Northern Plains' Member Jessie Huffman, Guest Opinion: 2007 energy bill holds promise for ag families

By JESSIE HUFFMAN

The House of Representatives passed a much needed energy reform bill on Aug. 4 by a vote of 241-172. The bill, HR3221, contains moderate and reasonable reforms for the Department of the Interior's oil and gas programs. If implemented, the provisions in this bill would help ensure that energy development would be handled responsibly and be done right. It is important that the final bill negotiated by the House and U.S. Senate include these reforms.

HR3221 includes fundamental provisions that balance our nation's need for energy with common-sense protections for surface owners, water resources and wildlife. Conditions where a split estate exists (federally owned gas and oil lies beneath private land) landowners have little or no leverage to ensure that energy development is done responsibly with minimum impact to ranch land or farmland upon which their livelihood depends. This energy bill requires surface use agreements and bonding to protect the landowners and give them a voice in the development of oil and gas on their land.

This bill also requires energy companies to submit a plan to protect both the surface and ground water impacted by the drilling process. Water has always been scarce in southeastern Montana. Range wars were fought over it, and water is now no less necessary to the survival of farms and ranches than it was during the open-range era.

Livestock springs at risk

A single methane well can impact ground and surface water up to a 12-mile radius. But energy companies are only required to give restitution on water affected within a half-mile radius.

Our ranch has targeted livestock springs that will be affected by the new methane wells proposed in the CX field. As the law stands, if our springs are compromised, we won't have any protection or recourse. We will lose our crucial water supply as will many other ranchers. HR3221 holds energy companies accountable for the loss of water due to drilling - both the quantity and quality.

Throughout Montana and the West, large tracts of land are designated as areas of critical environmental and cultural concern. Common sense dictates that leases of the minerals under such tracts, held by the Bureau of Land Management, warrant a review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Last year, the BLM granted categorical exclusions (waivers of environmental impact studies or environmental assessments where the BLM considers them unnecessary) to more than 2,000 drilling permit applications in these areas of concern.

Rosebud Battlefield lease

One such area was the Rosebud Battlefield State Park, where the BLM owns the minerals under 408 acres. These 408 acres encompass historically and culturally significant sites within the park boundary. Why were these tracts leased, without even a period for public comment?

The passage of the 2007 Federal Energy Bill would help ensure that such travesties wouldn't occur in the future.

The purpose of the 2007 Federal Energy Bill is to make certain we don't regret the cost to ourselves and our grandchildren. Wyoming is grateful for its full coffers, however our neighbors there are now beginning to question the wisdom of giving the energy companies such uncontrolled license.

Once our natural resources are lost or compromised, it is a long and arduous road to reclamation. The gas isn't going anywhere, so why not take the time and make the effort to safeguard our water, land and wildlife?

What's the rush?

Contact Sen. Max Baucus at 202-224-2651 and Sen. Jon Tester at 202-224-2644 and urge them to support the oil and gas provisions contained in the House energy bill.