CONTACT
Aaron Weiss, Deputy Director
Center for Western Priorities
aaron@westernpriorities.org
720-279-0019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2020
DENVER—Today, the Bureau of Land Management ended a moratorium on new coal leasing on public lands, lifting a pause implemented under the Obama administration to study coal mining’s effects on public health, lands, and the climate. The BLM conducted an environmental assessment following a court order to revisit the decision to lift the moratorium enacted under former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in 2017. A judge also dismissed the administration’s efforts to repeal a policy that increases coal royalty revenues for taxpayers. Despite the administration’s favoritism, coal mining companies are going bankrupt and coal power plants continue to shut down across the West.
The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“The result of this environmental review was cooked from the start—the Trump administration tried to end the coal moratorium three years ago, but was so sloppy that a judge told them to try again. Similarly, the administration tried to reopen a loophole allowing coal companies to skirt royalties owed to taxpayers, only to lose in court.
“Right now, fossil fuels extracted from public lands account for one-quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. But instead of ensuring our public lands are part of the climate solution, the former oil lobbyist in charge of the Interior Department is trying to open even more places for drilling and mining.”
Learn more:
- Interior lifts moratorium on federal coal leasing [Bloomberg Environment]
- The drilling and mining industry wishlist [Center for Western Priorities]
- Time for public lands to step up to the climate plate [Center for Western Priorities]
- Lobbyists get bang for the bucks at Interior [Center for Western Priorities]
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.