WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., and 33 additional members of the House and Senate, are leading the fight to protect federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana.
Today, the members of the Senate and House sent a letter to Interior Secretary Salazar calling for the Department of Interior (DOI) to strongly defend the federal coal leasing program against unfounded environmental litigation aimed at stopping coal production on federal land. The Members emphasize the importance of Powder River Basin coal to jobs and the economy as well as our energy security of the nation.
WildEarth Guardians filed the petition and an additional lawsuit claiming that federal coal leases are issued without adequately analyzing the impacts of coal production on climate change. The letter highlights the fact that prior to issuing federal coal leases, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), already engages in an extensive, multi-year process to assess and address every potential impact of the proposed mining operation, including environmental impacts.
WildEarth Guardians’ petition could potentially result in the delay or stop the 12 proposed coal leases in the Powder River Basin. These leases contain up to 5.8 billion tons of coal, and would jeopardize nearly 6,000 high-paying jobs and $2 billion in revenues to state and federal coffers.
Highlights of the Letter:
“We are writing to underscore the importance of the federal coal leasing program to the economy and energy security of this nation and to emphasize the need for the Department to undertake a strong defense of the federal coal leasing program. An efficient leasing program is critical to ensuring retention of high-paying jobs and affordable sources of electricity to meet our growing energy needs.
“For example, the PRB alone currently supplies more than 450 million tons of coal per year. Its production accounts for 40% of the nation’s coal, and its product is used in 38 states to generate electricity. States that use PRB coal generally have electricity costs that are 50 percent lower than states that rely on other fuels.
“Prior to leasing federal coal, the BLM engages in an extensive, multi-year process to assess and address every potential impact of the proposed mining operation. This process allows full analysis of both specific environmental impacts associated with leasing in that location, as well as broad analysis of wider environmental implications like climate impacts. WildEarth Guardians’ allegations to the contrary are unfounded and should not be entertained by DOI. The lawsuits threaten to unravel the leasing of federal coal in the PRB.
“A similar lawsuit filed by WildEarth Guardians on federal oil and gas leasing in Montana produced a settlement agreement resulting in the DOI’s cancellation of 61 oil and gas leases covering over 30,000 acres and suspension of all future oil and gas leasing in Montana, North and South Dakota while the agency studies potential climate change impacts.
“The current leasing policy has served our nation well by providing a reliable and secure source of fuel to generate affordable electricity for all Americans and high-wage jobs that support communities throughout the region. Your agency possesses the rigorous analysis and the means to effectively fight against the unfounded claims of WildEarth Guardians. We believe that the public interest requires a vigorous defense of the Department’s federal coal leasing program.”
-end-