Buffalo BLM to End Coal Leasing in Powder River Basin

Coal mining on public roads in the Powder River Basin. (H/t Bureau of Land Management/Flickr)

BUFFALO, Wyo. — This morning, the Bureau of Land Management announced it would end federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, the largest coal-producing region in the United States.

The decision represents a historic shift in federal coal management in the region, recognizing the environmental and health impacts on coal communities and recognizing that the market has shifted away from coal toward cleaner, more affordable energy sources, says A press release.

The BLM has issued a final environmental impact statement for two Powder River Basin resource management plans, Buffalo and Miles City, concluding that there would be significant impacts on climate, human health and the environment by continuing to lease the region’s approximately 6 billion tons of lowlands. highly polluting quality coal. The BLM selected “a no-future coal leasing alternative” through which existing mines can develop already leased reserves but cannot develop with public coal reserves, the release said.

“Coal has powered our country for many decades, but technology, economics and markets are changing dramatically. BLM’s announcement recognizes that the age of coal is coming to an end and it is time to focus on supporting our communities in the transition away from coal, investing in workers and take action to heal our lands, waters and climate as we move into a bright clean energy future. said Paula Antoine, board president of the Western Organization of Resource Councils, Winner, South Dakota.

“As someone who lives near some of the nation’s largest coal mines, I am grateful for the BLM’s leadership in finally addressing the long-standing negative impacts that federal coal leasing has had on the Powder Basin River,” Lynne said. Huskinson, a retired coal miner and board member of the Powder River Basin Resource Council and the Western Organization of Resource Councils in Gillette. “For decades, mining has impacted public health; our local land, air and water; and the global climate. We look forward to seeing BLM work with state and local partners to ensure a just economic transition for the Powder River Basin as we move toward a clean energy future.

In 2022, in response to a challenge by conservation groups including the Powder River Basin Resource Council and the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a federal judge concluded that the two resource management plans had failed to address to the public health consequences of authorizing massive quantities of coal and oil. and gas production from public lands and minerals in the Powder River Basin over 20 years. The court ordered the BLM to redo its environmental analysis.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris found that the BLM had failed to comply with an earlier court order directing the agency to report on environmental and human health impacts related to the burning of public coal . The judge also found that the BLM failed to consider alternatives that would limit or end new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act.