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Print Page Buffalo Field Office  Coal Bed Methane Development -
Past to Present  Coalbed methane gas has been known to exist in
the Powder River Basin (PRB) since early settlers first came
into the area. In 1987, the Rawhide Butte subdivision had to be
abandoned because of hydrogen sulfide and methane gas seeping
into the basements of homes that were built on a coalbed.  In
1989, the Coal Bed Methane Environmental Assessment, Eastern
[Johnson] and Western Campbell Counties was begun to assess the
impacts of this development. Major concerns addressed were the
volumes of water which would have to be pumped (up to 397,400
liters (2,500 barrels) per well per day) and discharged,
depletion of the groundwater and the effects on existing stock
and domestic water wells completed in the coals, effects on
other aquifers from potential water migration, and effects of
discharged water on surface water quality. The Decision Record
(DR) for the EA found that no