Frequently Asked Questions

Does the creation of this program mean that coalbed natural gas producers believe that impacts will occur from water discharges into the Tongue River?
The information available to-date indicates that discharges of unaltered groundwater coming from coalbed natural gas production into the Tongue River has not had and will not have a negative impact on irrigated land downstream of the operations. However, this program gathers scientifically sound baseline data at the early stages of development that can be used to track any significant changes should they occur. That’s the reason for the AMPP. Every human activity, whether it’s grazing cattle, irrigating alfalfa or extracting natural gas – has impacts. The issue is whether the impacts are significant enough to create damage or whether they can be managed in a way to minimize or eliminate it.

About the testing itself, how intrusive is it? How long will the actual testing take?
Prior to actual testing, Neal Fehringer, Kevin Harvey, and Dr. Bill Schafer met with individual landowners to discuss where to conduct the testing, meaning which field or fields, and how that testing will be conducted. For most fields, the soil sampling program is identical to that used by fertilizer dealers. Neal takes composite soil samples from two different depths at 10 to 15 locations across a field. This sampling is done using an ATV-mounted 1" boring probe. In 10 to 13 fields, the sampling and analysis is more detailed. In these fields, Kevin and Bill use a truck mounted 2" boring tool to a depth of six to eight feet. Most of these fields are composite sampled, keeping each horizon separate. Two fields are grid sampled with each sampling site being kept separate. In these two grid sampled fields, a backhoe pit to a six to eight foot depth is made so that the soil profile can be visually observed and samples taken. To minimize any impacts, they use a rubber-tired backhoe, select the location of the pit under the landowner’s direction, and reclaim the area where the pit is excavated. Depending upon the outcome of their discussions with individual landowners, it is estimated that the time needed to complete this testing is no more than half a day. During that time period, Neal conducts a crop yield analysis through conversations with the landowner and a field investigation.

Follow-up testing is done to determine if damage has occurred. Will this testing also be free of charge to the participating landowners?
Periodic sampling may be continued throughout the period of CBNG development as long as a significant number of landowners want to continue to participate in the program. This testing would be free and would be conducted with the cooperation of the landowner.

Who created this program?
The Tongue River Agronomic Monitoring and Protection Program was designed by Neal Fehringer, Kevin Harvey and Dr. Bill Schafer. For complete biographical information on these scientists, click here.

How will the data collected from this program be used? Will the information be made public?
We will publish a summary of the data in a publication, which will be distributed to cooperators, local Conservation Districts and NRCS offices for the benefits of all agricultural producers. The location of each specific field is protected by using a code to refer to each sample. In this way only the participating landowner will know the specific results in a specific field.