CHEYENNE -- Landowners would have more say over whether water from coal-bed methane wells is discharged on their land under a rule change approved by a divided state Environmental Quality Council on Friday.

In addition, the amount of water would be considered by the state in issuing discharge permits.

Advocates for landowners adversely affected by methane water applauded the action, while representatives of methane developers withheld comment until they could study the proposed rule.

Other provisions in the Powder River Basin Resource Council petition seeking tougher standards on the level of chemicals allowed in the methane water were put off by the council until new scientific studies could be completed.

The proposed change still needs the approval of Gov. Dave Freudenthal before it would take effect. Rob Black, a spokesman for the governor, said Freudenthal was reserving comment until he could study the proposal.

Excess water produced from coal-bed methane wells has become an issue in the state, especially in the Powder River Basin of northeast Wyoming. The water is pumped to the surface in order to capture the methane.

Currently, the state Department of Environmental Quality allows coal-bed methane operators to discharge water under the assumption that the water is put to some beneficial use. The rule change approved by the Environmental Quality Council would require operators to get landowners to say the water is a benefit to them or prove by other means that the water is benefiting agriculture or wildlife and that the quantity of water didn't impact its quality.