Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Eco-groups fight coal mining in Wyoming, Montana Powder River Basin

Environmental groups announced Tuesday they are challenging in court the Obama administration's plan to lease vast coal reserves in the nation's largest coal producing region. Three groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court contesting the federal leasing program for the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana. The area produces almost half the nation's coal and has seen a sharp increase in mining in recent decades as production in Eastern states tapers. Coal companies want to further ramp up mining in the basin both to serve U.S. power plants and also increase the industry's exports to Asia, a market expected to grow sharply in coming years. The lawsuit says a 1990 decision to "decertify" the Powder River Basin as a coal producing region is no longer valid. Plaintiffs say that move — which followed a brief period of declining production — has allowed the government to avoid environmental reviews on the climate change impact of burning billions of tons of coal. The lawsuit names Interior Sec. Ken Salazar and Bureau of Land Management Director Robert Abbey as defendants. It was filed Monday by the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and WildEarth Guardians...more

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