Assembly passes CBM resolution

After more than an hour and a half of public testimony, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Tuesday evening agreed to forward a resolution geared at resolving residents' concerns about coal-bed methane development in the Valley.

The passed resolution was significantly different from what appeared in the assembly packet. An initial resolution, sponsored by assembly members Jim Colver and Mary Kvalheim, was followed by a slimmed-down substitute with a more cooperative tone. Phrases such as "… the state of Alaska does not have at present trained staff knowledgeable about the industry …" and "… in other regions of the country property values have slipped 20 percent due to the surface and subsurface activities of the coal-bed methane industry …" were removed, as was a request to "… halt further coal-bed methane actions including any further drilling …" until sufficient staff and regulations were in place. In their place are phrases pointing out that the assembly "supports responsible development and believes industry and private property rights can co-exist …" Assembly member Bill Allen added his name as a sponsor to the substitute legislation.

The substituted resolution asks for a meeting with Gov. Frank Murkowski and members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly to "discuss and resolve concerns related to coal-bed methane development in the boroughs." It doesn't go as far as several who testified at Tuesday's meeting requested. As has been the case in previous public meetings, several testifiers requested a moratorium on drilling until studies of baseline water data and groundwater information can be completed.

"It never hurts to go slow, especially when there's no infrastructure in place," Jeff Arndt told the assembly.

Their requests were countered by a handful of others who, like Pio Cottini, encouraged the borough to "let Evergreen do their work, and see what's there."

When the public testimony was closed, Colver offered an amendment adding a request that the baseline groundwater data be obtained. The request was not tied to a moratorium and, after a few clarifications - who would obtain the data, for example - the amendment passed.

Assembly Member Jody Simpson, citing a desire for more time to review the substituted amendment and other proposed changes, requested that the resolution be postponed and brought up at an assembly meeting in February. The postponement, she said, would allow assembly members to attend upcoming public workshops being scheduled by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the borough.

Those public workshops, set up as a series of four meetings addressing four different aspects of shallow-well gas development regulation, was set to begin in mid-January, although a two-week delay of those meetings has been requested.

"I would like to be able to attend these public meetings before I make a decision on this coal-bed methane issue," Simpson said.

After other assembly members discussed upcoming dates of travel, including a planned lobbying trip by some members to Washington, D.C., the motion was defeated with Simpson's sole support. Assembly Member Betty Vehrs added her name to the sponsor list and the overall motion, including the request for a meeting between the governor and members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, passed unanimously, to some surprise among audience members, many of whom whispered among themselves to check that they had followed the action correctly.

Assembly Member Bruce Bush, who has voiced support for coal-bed methane development at previous meetings, and returned recently from Colorado with a positive report of Evergreen Resources Inc.'s operations in that state, shed some light on why he approved the resolution.

"'Do it right' is what everybody kept saying here," Bush said. "I believe … the mistrust that's been floating around here lately, that this'll kind of mend that. The thought that the state is not looking out for our best interests is getting out of hand - we have to remind everybody that we just put a new administration in there. I hope to work with them in developing responsible development - and working with them in economic development. Coal-bed methane is one of those things - but we should make sure that this body is on record as pro-development on all fronts."

Colver, who has taken the stance of questioning the need for development in residential areas in past meetings, said he saw the vote as good start.

"I think this will get us a long way toward working with the state," Colver said. "Thanks for the support, I think it's an important first step on a long road."

Allen, who has previously held to the middle of the road, advocating both responsible development and the need for increased economic growth, said he was pleased to see the assembly's unanimous response.

"I think you took a very definite leadership position this evening," Allen said. "I think it will be respected by the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the governor. I can tell you from firsthand experience, the governor wants to get this issue behind him - he wants to get it resolved."