Category Archives: Community Organization, Politics and History

The long history of oil drilling in Elk Basin explains why local zoning in Belfry is necessary

Posted on February 25, 2015 by davidjkatz

To understand the need for the proposed Silvertip Zoning District near Belfry, you need to know about the long history of oil exploration in the area. Local residents have a well-established, stable relationship with the oil industry that has lasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Belfry, citizen initiated zoning, Elk Basin, Jack McFadyen, John D Rockefeller, Marathon Oil, Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, oil drilling, placer claims, Robert Staughton Lynd, Silvertip zone | 12 Comments

Action Alert: Public comment period for BLM leases on the Beartooth Front in northern Wyoming ends Monday, February 23

Posted on February 22, 2015 by davidjkatz

Last May a large number of public comments played an important role in the deferral of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oil lease in the Dean area. While the BLM is not currently considering any leases in Stillwater or … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History, Fracking Information | Tagged Beartooth flyover, Bureau of Land Management | 2 Comments

Guest Post: Why Silvertip landowners filed suit against the Carbon County Commissioners

Posted on February 20, 2015 by davidjkatz

by Bonnie Martinell I am one of a group of Belfry landowners who recently filed suit against the Carbon County Commissioners to vindicate our right to protect our property, health, and livelihoods through local action. On February 13, seven landowners … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Billings Gazette, Bonnie Martinell, Carbon County Commissioners, Carbon County Growth Plan, citizen initiated zoning, clean and healthful environment, Energy Corporation of America, Montana Board of Oil and Gas, Montana legislature, Northern Plains Resource Council, Silvertip zone | 4 Comments

Timeline of events leading to legal action by Silvertip landowners

Posted on February 16, 2015 by davidjkatz

Last week landowners in the Silvertip area of Belfry filed a legal action to overturn the Carbon County Commissioners’ rejection of their attempts to form a citizen initiated zone Here is a timeline of events leading up to this action: … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Carbon County Commissioners, Energy Corporation of America, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation | 7 Comments

Belfry landowners file legal challenge to Commissioners’ rejection of Silvertip Zone

Posted on February 13, 2015 by davidjkatz

Red Lodge, MT – Today, seven landowners filed a legal challenge in state district court to the Carbon County Commission’s rejection of their petition for land use regulations to protect their private properties from the harmful effects of oil and … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Bonnie Martinell, Carbon County Commissioners, citizen initiated zoning, Earthjustice, Energy Corporation of America, Jenny Harbine, John Mork, legal action, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Silvertip zone | 8 Comments

We need local control of oil and gas drilling

Posted on February 3, 2015 by davidjkatz

I sometimes speak to Montanans who just don’t like the idea of local control of oil and gas drilling. “Regulation of oil and gas,” they say, “is a matter for state and federal governments. If you get local governments involved, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Billings Gazette, federal government, Montana legislature, Preserve the Beartooth Front video | 15 Comments

Please attend: Carbon County Commissioners Meeting Thursday, January 15

Posted on January 13, 2015 by davidjkatz

The final step in the process of establishing the Silvertip Zone occurs this Thursday, January 15, at the next Carbon County Commissioners meeting. The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building at 17 West 11th Street in Red Lodge, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Carbon County Commissioners, Carbon County Growth Policy, citizen initiated zoning, Silvertip zone | 1 Comment

A personal story: Cathy McMullen, Denton Texas

Posted on December 5, 2014 by davidjkatz

Cathy McMullen, Denton Texas We’ve talked about the Denton, Texas fracking ban and its legal aftermath. Today we have the personal story of Cathy McMullen, the local citizen who led the fight. This is one of a series of personal stories … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History, Uncategorized | Tagged Carbon County, Carbon County Growth Plan, Cathy McMullen, citizen initiated zoning, Denton Texas, fracking ban, personal stories | 7 Comments

Denton, Texas lawsuit: lessons for the Beartooth Front

Posted on December 1, 2014 by davidjkatz

You’ll recall that the voters of Denton, Texas passed a fracking ban on election day. The 59-41 victory was remarkable because it made Denton the first city in the largest oil and gas producing state in the country to pass … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Cathy McMullen, Denton Drilling Awareness Group, Denton Texas, Energy Corporation of America, fracking ban, Helen Slottje, Mike Dockery, Montana Board of Oil and Gas, Silvertip zone | 5 Comments

Good news from Carbon County. Silvertip landowners resubmit citizen initiated zoning petition to County Commissioners, plus Belfry well timeline

Posted on November 21, 2014 by davidjkatz

Exciting news today from Carbon County. The landowners in the Silvertip Zone resubmitted their petition to the County Commissioners to establish a citizen initiated zone in Belfry yesterday. Landowners had originally submitted a petition to the Commissioners on August 18, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Alex Nixon, Belfry well, Bonnie Martinell, Carbon County Commissioners, Carbon County Resource Council, Carol Nash, citizen inititated zoning, Energy Corporation of America, Mike Dockery, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Northern Plains Resource Council, Silvertip zone | 15 Comments