Draft supplement to the Montana statewide oil and gas environmental impact statement and amendment of the Powder River and Billings resource management plans

As a result of lawsuits filed against the BLM's Record of Decision (ROD), the U.S. District Court issued orders, dated February 25, 2005, and April 5, 2005, that required the BLM to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to evaluate a phased development alternative for CBNG production. The U.S. District Court also issued an order, dated February 25, 2005, advising the BLM to include the proposed Tongue River Railroad in the cumulative impact analysis and analyze the effectiveness of water well mitigation agreements. The Draft SEIS is a reissue of the original EIS/Amendment: Montana Statewide Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement and Amendment of the Powder River and Billings Resource Management Plans (Statewide Document). This SEIS provides additional information and analyses regarding the topics identified by the U.S. District Court. It is intended to expand on the information presented in the Statewide Document. The Draft SEIS analyzes three phased development alternatives (F, G, and H) for managing oil and gas resources in the planning area. As a result, the BLM selected a new preferred alternative (H). This alternative would amend the Resource Management Plans and allow coal bed natural gas (CBNG) exploration and development while minimizing impacts on environmental resources.