Congressman Denny Rehberg

August 11, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), is urging both the U.S. and Canada to petition the International Joint Commission (IJC) to review British Columbia’s decision to publicly auction coalbed methane leases on August 25. The IJC will step in only if both countries make such a request.

“The date is looming and this may be our last resort,” Rehberg explained. “Gov. Martz last month urged Canada to study the impact of methane drilling before allowing exploratory development so close to the headwaters of the Flathead River, but her common sense request has been ignored.”

In letters faxed to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew late Tuesday, Rehberg urged both Canada and the U.S. to petition the IJC to resolve the issue.

“Up to this point, the British Columbian and the Canadian governments have shown no willingness to first conduct an environmental assessment of proposed coalbed natural gas exploration sites in an area of British Columbia neighboring Glacier National Park in Montana,” Rehberg, a member of the House Resources Committee, wrote. “My concern is that the province is forgoing proper environmental protections in an effort to hasten this lease sale.”

The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Its purpose is to help prevent and resolve disputes relating to the use and quality of boundary waters and to advise Canada and the United States on related questions.

“A completed environmental assessment statement will identify the risks, if any, these proposed coal bed methane leases pose to the Flathead and Kootenai watersheds, downstream waters, wildlife, and Montana communities,” Rehberg wrote.

Letters Below:

August 11, 2004
The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
U.S. State Department
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

I write urging you to request the International Joint Commission to review the decision by Canada’s British Columbia Province to publicly auction coalbed methane leases on August 25, 2004.

Up to this point, the British Columbian and the Canadian governments have shown no willingness to first conduct an environmental assessment of proposed coalbed natural gas exploration sites in an area of British Columbia neighboring Glacier National Park in Montana. My concern is that the province is forgoing proper environmental protections in an effort to hasten this lease sale.

A completed environmental assessment statement will identify the risks, if any, these proposed coal bed methane leases pose to the Flathead and Kootenai watersheds, downstream waters, wildlife, and Montana communities.

I therefore request you petition the International Joint Commission to help resolve this issue.

Thank you in advance for your quick response to this request.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

**************************

August 11, 2004

Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON, Canada
K1A 0G2

Dear Foreign Minister Pettigrew:

I write urging you to request the International Joint Commission to review the decision by Canada’s British Columbia Province to publicly auction coalbed methane leases on August 25, 2004.

Up to this point, the British Columbian and the Canadian governments have shown no willingness to first conduct an environmental assessment of proposed coalbed natural gas exploration sites in an area of British Columbia neighboring Glacier National Park in Montana. My concern is that the province is forgoing proper environmental protections in an effort to hasten this lease sale.

A completed environmental assessment statement will identify the risks, if any, these proposed coal bed methane leases pose to the Flathead and Kootenai watersheds, downstream waters, wildlife, and Montana communities.

I therefore request you petition the International Joint Commission to help resolve this issue.

Thank you in advance for your quick response to this request.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress