EPA CHANGES FAIL TO PLACATE INDUSTRY OPPOSITION TO CBM SURVEY

The oil and gas industry is continuing to voice opposition to a planned EPA study that could lead to technology-based effluent standards for regulating "produced water" from coalbed methane (CBM) extraction operations -- even though the agency recently scaled back the survey in response to industry concerns -- saying EPA has failed to explain why a study is necessary. The study and possible subsequent regulations are unfeasible and unnecessary because environmental impacts vary widely by region and are better regulated...