WildEarth Guardians

Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Coal on Trial in Montana

Court Hearing over U.S. Interior Department Mining Approvals Friday, July 31 at 10:00 AM in Billings
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 437-7663

Additional Contact:

Glenn Turner, 917-817-3396, glenn@ripplestrategies.com

This Friday a federal judge will hear arguments in a WildEarth Guardians lawsuit over the Spring Creek mine expansion.  The suit challenges the failure of the U.S. Interior Department to analyze the climate consequences of approving more coal mining, the failure of the agency to address the clean air impacts of mining, and the failure of the agency to provide any public notice of its decision.  WildEarth Guardians has already won a similar lawsuit over coal mining in Colorado. 

Spring Creek, a massive strip mine owned by Cloud Peak Energy, is Montana’s largest coal mine, and is located in the Powder River Basin, the largest coal mining region in the U.S.  In 2013, the mine produced more than 17 million tons of coal, making it the seventh largest in the nation. Coal from Spring Creek is shipped to dozens of power plants in the nation and is also exported through British Columbia to Asia. 

Approved in 2012, the Interior Mining Plan added 97 million tons of coal to the Spring Creek mine, extending its life by 13 years.  It threatens to unleash more than 160 million metric tons of carbon, equal to the amount released annually by 33.6 million cars.  The company intends to increase coal exports by 700%.

WHAT: A federal judge will hear arguments in WildEarth Guardians’ lawsuit over the Spring Creek mine expansion.  WildEarth Guardians’ Staff Attorney and Climate and Energy Program Director will be available before and after the hearing for comment.

WHEN: Friday, July 31, 10:00 AM

WHERE: Ella Knowles Courtroom of the James F. Battin Federal Courthouse, 2601 2^nd Avenue North in Billings, Montana. 

“Coal is mined for one reason, to be burned,” says Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardian’s Climate & Energy Program Director, who will attend the arguments in Billings.  “Burning coal produces massive amounts of carbon pollution, fueling global warming.  More coal mining therefore undermines our nation’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change.”

Interior is increasingly under fire for ignoring the climate consequences of coal mining.  Even the Secretary of the Interior has acknowledged a need to reconcile the federal coal management program with our climate objectives.  Interior has scheduled a series of “listening sessions” to weigh reforms to the federal coal program, including sessions in Billings, Montana and other western communities.

The Judge will not issue a ruling on Friday, but the hearing will signal the disposition of the court and indicate where a ruling will likely fall.