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A federal judge on Friday reinstated a moratorium on coal leasing from federal lands that was put in place during the Obama administration.
The ban was lifted under former President Donald Trump.
Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Morris requires government officials to conduct a new environmental review before resuming sales of coal from federal lands. The judge said the government’s previous review of the program during the Trump administration did not adequately account for climate damage from coal’s greenhouse gas emissions, among other effects.
Almost half of the nation’s annual coal production is mined by private companies from federally leased lands, mainly in western states including Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.
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A federal judge reinstated a moratorium on coal leasing from federal lands that was imposed under former President Barack Obama and then struck down under former President Donald Trump, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
Burning coal for electricity is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, although a number of power plants have closed over the past decade due to concerns about pollution and changing economic conditions.
The coal program earned about $400 million in federal and state coffers in royalties and other payments last year, according to government figures. The program is responsible for thousands of jobs and has the support of industry representatives, Republican members of Congress and officials in coal-producing states.
President Joe Biden halted oil and gas lease sales in his first week in office, though the move was later blocked by a federal judge. Environmental groups pressured him to take similar action against coal.
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In this Oct. 16, 2014 file photo, fog drifts over a mountain peak as a cutout depicts a miner standing at a memorial to local miners killed on the job in Cumberland, Kentucky (AP)
Last year, the Biden administration launched a review of climate damage from coal mining on federal lands as it tightened controls on state sales of fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, no changes were announced due to this review.
“This decision gives the Biden administration an opportunity to follow through on its commitment to seriously fight the climate crisis,” Earthjustice attorney Jenny Harbin, who is representing environmental groups and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in the case, said of the decision. “No progress has been made to reform the program or to do what is necessary to eliminate the existing leases.”
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In this Nov. 9, 2010 file photo, a mine worker stands at the entrance to Signal Peak Energy’s Bull Mountain mine in Roundup, Montana. (AP)
But National Mining Association President Rich Nolan said the industry lobby group would appeal the decision.
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“This is a deeply disappointing decision with energy-driven inflation, energy affordability and energy security being the most important issues for Americans,” Nolan said. “The denial of access to affordable and secure energy during an energy affordability crisis is deeply troubling.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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