MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristiana Faddoul, Media Coordinator, kristiana.faddoul@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Department of the Interior announced it will restart an analysis of the climate, health and economic impacts from mining and burning coal from public lands -- a review that began during the Obama administration.
In response, representatives of Sierra Club released the following statements:
“The Biden administration’s decision to review the impacts of coal leasing on public lands is a good first step and one that is long overdue. But with scientists warning of a worst case climate scenario if we do not take action, the Biden administration’s move to continue new leasing on public lands fails to meet the bold action we need. Now more than ever, we must hold coal corporations accountable for irreversibly damaging public lands and fueling the climate crisis,” said Bill Corcoran, Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign.
“The coal leasing program has always been a massive giveaway to coal corporations that harm our public lands, clean air and water, and the stability of our climate,” continued Corcoran. “Allowing the coal industry to fuel climate disruption by burning fossil fuels from public lands -- as communities across the West confront unprecedented climate disasters -- is incompatible with the Biden administration's climate and environmental goals. An honest review of the federal coal program should lead to a permanent ban on new coal leasing on our public lands.”
Meanwhile, there are a number of pending applications to expand coal mining leases on public lands. Most notably, in Utah, a request to expand the Alton coal mine would give the Alton Development Company access to extract more than 30 million tons of coal across more than 2,000 acres of public land near some of the nation’s most iconic national parks. The Biden administration is currently analyzing the climate impacts of the expansion, which the Trump administration unlawfully ignored in a 2018 approval -- a policy eventually overturned by a federal judge. The Biden administration will decide whether to allow the lease to go forward after reviewing climate impacts.
“Here in Utah, we are living in a reality of climate disruption. We are experiencing the worst drought in state history and increasing intensity of devastating fire seasons. Now more than ever, public lands and waters need to be a part of the climate solution,” said Carly Ferro, Director of the Sierra Club’s Utah Chapter. “We already know that expanding the Alton coal mine onto public lands will cause massive and irreparable damage. And given the negligent history and outdated laws, coal corporations won’t be held accountable for those costs -- once again leaving the economic and environmental burden on Utah communities. The Biden administration should simply reject the Alton coal lease, help protect our communities, and show their true commitment to acting on climate."
More information:
In addition to requiring a comprehensive analysis of the federal coal leasing program, the Obama administration paused new coal leasing on public lands until the analysis was complete. The Trump administration, however, revoked the Obama administration’s pause on federal coal leasing and canceled the environmental analysis. Today, the Biden administration is only restarting the analysis, but not reinstating the pause on coal leasing.
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.