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2001 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects
21. | PROJECT: | Coal Bed Methane Observation Wells | | | | | |
| LEVEL: | II |
| SPONSOR: | State Engineer's Office |
| LOCATION: | Campbell County |
| PROGRAM: | New Development |
| |
| EXISTING LEGISLATION: |
|
Purpose |
Chapter |
Session |
Account |
Appropriation |
Due Date |
|
|
Level II |
82 |
1998 |
I |
$300,000 |
2000 |
|
PROJECT INFORMATION:
The State Engineer's Office (SEO) has seen a number of groundwater permit applications recently
for coal bed methane (cbm) projects. There currently are 821 cbm wells statewide, with 690 of
those in Campbell County. Information from representatives of the cbm industry indicate that
another 1500-2000 cbm wells may be constructed in Campbell County in the next 3-5 years. This
number of wells could represent several thousand acre-feet of groundwater withdrawals yearly. As
a result of the rapid growth in this industry the SEO has requested $300,000 from the water
development account. These funds would be utilized in the drilling, completion, equipping and
monitoring of observation wells, and the installation of surface water measuring devices to be
located in the cbm production areas. These monitoring facilities would become part of the SEO
statewide observation well network.
The SEO will be required to submit an itemized accounting of expenditures with each transfer
request under this cbm authorization, and will be required to submit annual reports and a final
report containing all information developed to date and their findings.
This work is underway, and a short report has been submitted. It is expected that well construction
will be completed in 1999.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action is required.
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