Dear
HCN,
Thanks for the recent article on coalbed
methane (CBM) in the Powder River Basin (HCN, 11/5/01: Wyoming’s
powder keg). While some of our issues here in the Raton Basin are
slightly different – fewer ranchers, more rural residential
development, no celebrity poster child – we appreciate any
visibility that CBM development gets. The change that is possible
from the scale of development being contemplated is truly
frightening when one loves the land.
One point of
clarification: Hal Clifford’s article incorrectly states, “In
Colorado, coalbed methane water is reinjected into deep strata.”
While that method of disposal is common in the San Juan Basin, here
in the Colorado portion of the Raton Basin, most wells have their
produced water discharged to pits or to the surface (“state
waters”). The water being produced here is sufficiently high in
quality that the CEO of one CBM company appeared on videotape
boastfully drinking water right out of a CBM well. In fact, the
U.S. Geological Survey in a 1989 publication identified the coalbed
aquifers as the most reliable water sources available for future
growth and development of the region.
It seems a
travesty in a semi-arid climate that our precious water is being
pumped and drained away with little the public can do about it. One
would never know from CBM development that water is more precious
to life than natural gas and electricity. Keep up the good
work.
Jenifer
Morrissey
Aguilar, Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Water is more precious than gas.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
