Baucus to BP: Expect a fight fromMontana

By JIM MANN

The Daily Inter Lake

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., met with British Petroleum chiefs Monday, warning them to expect a "knock-down, drag-out fight" if they pursue coalbed methane development in the Canadian Flathead.

Baucus met face-to-face in his Washington, D.C., office with BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone and BP Canada chief Randy McLeod.

He told them to expect "a massive and unpleasant fight from Montana that will end badly" for the company if it pursues its "Mist Mountain" coalbed methane project. Exploration would focus on the Crows Nest coalfield, which straddles the Canadian Flathead drainage and the Elk River drainage.

Baucus and other mining opponents contend that methane development would produce huge volumes of wastewater in the Canadian Flathead River, which flows south into Montana's North Fork Flathead River and on to Flathead Lake. The Elk River flows into Lake Koocanusa, a transboundary reservoir north of Libby.

Baucus helped block development of an open pit coal-mining operation in the Canadian Flathead in the 1980s.

"I've been fighting to protect water quality and wildlife in the Flathead Valley for 30 years," Baucus said in a press release. "I'm not about to give up now. We're going to do whatever it takes to stop energy development north of our border. We're pulling out all the stops. The gloves are off."

In a telephone interview, Baucus said Malone and McLeod were "taken aback" by his statements.

"I think it was sobering for them, because to this point, they have talked to my office … and I think they wanted to see what I personally thought," Baucus said. "I think they began to realize that I'm not going to stand for any action across the border that's going to threaten the Flathead Valley."

Baucus asked the BP bosses to conduct public meetings in Kalispell as soon as possible to allow Montanans to weigh in on the proposal. And if BP proceeds with its plans, Baucus is insisting that an environmental assessment be conducted by an independent party, rather than by the company, which is common practice under Canadian law.

Baucus said Malone and McLeod suggested having a Montana representative on a steering committee for an internal environmental assessment. He said he rejected that idea.

"They may come back with another proposal," Baucus said. "I don't know."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com