Residents of the idyllic Rocky Mountain town of Fernie, B.C. demonstrated against BP’s Mist Mountain coalbed methane project today. Nearly 200 people turned out for a rally against the contentious project, which could cover 320 square kilometres of B.C.’s southern Rockies.

Click here for more photos from the rally by Todd Weselake - Raven Eye Photography

Chanting slogans like “Tell the Government of BC, We are Coalbed Methane FREE!” the crowd assembled at the Fernie Arts Station and then walked through downtown to the office BP occupied before closing it earlier this year.

Thanks to everyone who has been calling the premiers office today. We have been making an impact for sure!. But, apparently they Premiers office no longer keeps a record of any correspondence received via telephone. (??? ya, I know)

So, if everyone could take 2 seconds right now to go to this form and submit a message that will go to the Premier and the Minister of Energy and Mines (who just called all environmentalists eco-fascists yesterday) That would be awesome!

Click here >> http://www.ekcbm.org/take-action-write-e-mail <<

Let's load up their inboxes and let them know where the people of the Kootenays and BC stand on this issue.

BP is going to FRAC in Fernie. Find out what that means for our people, our water and our wildlife.

July 12th @ the Arts Station in Fernie - Gasland the Movie - FREE
July 14th outside the Arts Station - NP BP in BC Rally

This is an update to the recent release titled “BP gets British Columbia drill license 3 days after Deepwater Tragedy”

Wildsight learned yesterday that BP has already begun an exploratory drilling program 22 kilometers northeast of Fernie at Fir Creek.

New reports by Dogwood Initiative show government commitments not met

Back in 2007 Gordon Campbell’s government promised BC would have the best standards for coalbed methane practices in North America. Almost three years later an investigation by Dogwood Initiative has found this promise was broken. The protection British Columbia offers landowners, communities, water and wildlife give less protection than other jurisdictions.

New reports from the Dogwood Initiative confirm provincial rules on coalbed methane exploring, drilling and production do not live up to the standards set in other places to safeguard against the intense industrial development that accompanies coalbed methane.

B.C. regulations leave companies to collect all data and evaluate own impacts

The Flathead Coalition announced today that its internal evaluation of BP-Canada Energy Company’s environmental science demonstrates bias toward understating the likely environmental impact of its proposed Mist Mountain CBM project.

The Mist Mountain CBM project is being planned by BP-Canada for the Crowsnest Coalfield area that spans the Elk River and Flathead River hydrologic divide. The B.C. government granted tenure last December for the Elk Valley portions of the coalfield. BP says it plans to start exploratory drilling in early 2010, though it may commence sooner.