Thomas Young, Regional Communications Manager, thomas.young@sierraclub.org
Great Falls, Montana — Late Friday, a federal judge ruled that the Trump Administration’s Interior Department illegally lifted the moratorium placed on new coal mining leases on public lands. Sierra Club challenged the Interior Department’s 2017 action along with Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens for Clean Energy, Defenders of Wildlife, EcoCheyene, Montana Environmental Information Center, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and WildEarth Guardians -- all represented by Earthjustice.
In 2016, the Obama Administration put a temporary pause on all new coal mining leases and lease modifications until the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could prepare its first-ever study of the climate and economic costs of the federal coal leasing program, which accounts for approximately 40 percent of all coal burned to generate electricity in the U.S. Friday’s ruling concluded that the Interior Secretary at the time, Ryan Zinke, had an obligation to study the environmental impacts of re-starting the federal coal leasing process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The Trump Administration tried to avoid studying these issues at all. The court’s decision is a major win for the public’s ability to ensure transparent government decision-making, and a blow to climate skeptics who would prefer to wish away the destructive impacts of coal extraction.
The court has asked Interior to file briefs within 30 days on the appropriate remedy, which could impact pending coal leases and lease modifications on all BLM-managed land.
Across the country, coal power is losing out to cheaper clean energy like solar and wind, but the Trump Administration continues to spare no effort forcing the American taxpayer to prop up the coal industry, including removing the public health and environmental safeguards on coal mining.
In response, Senior Attorney Nathaniel Shoaff of Sierra Club issued the following response:
“The coal industry has been cheating the American taxpayer and local communities for decades, and this court victory is an important step in holding it accountable. Coal barons have never had to pay for the damage their mines inflict on our climate and our public lands, or the hefty price their mining has had on public health.
“The Trump Administration has repeatedly put the interest of fossil fuel executives ahead of the American people. With Friday’s ruling, we are changing that narrative and holding the industry and the Trump Administration accountable for cutting corners in a brazen attempt to prop up a dying industry. Our public lands exist for everyone, not solely for the betterment of polluters, billionaires, and well connected lobbyists in Washington.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.