WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, November 22, 2011
U.S. Interior Department, Forest Service Continue to Ignore Global Warming

WildEarth Guardians Challenges Massive Coal Leases, Monster Increases in Greenhouse Gases
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 573-4898 x 1303

Denver—In the face of what scientists have called “monster” increases in global greenhouse gas emissions, WildEarth Guardians has stepped up to challenge the latest decisions from the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to authorize massive new coal mining plans in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

“The Obama Administration is the leading the charge to destroy the Earth’s climate,” said Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardians’ Climate and Energy Program Director.  “While politically that may win votes, in the real world, that means more extreme weather, rising temperatures, and catastrophic environmental destruction.  We’re here to say that it’s time to stop putting politics over the health of our environment.”

The Powder River Basin of northeastern Wyoming is the largest coal producing region in the United States, fueling more than 200 coal-fired power plants (see WildEarth Guardians’ map of coal-fired power plants fueled by the Powder River Basin).  According to the Bureau of Land Management, the Interior Department agency charged with managing the region’s coal, contributes to 13% of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions—more than any other single activity.

In the last two years, the Interior Department has proposed 15 new coal leases that if issued, would collectively lead to the mining of more than 6.8 billion tons of coal and the release of more than 11.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide—almost twice the total amount of all greenhouse gases released every year in the U.S.  A spreadsheet showing the leases can be downloaded here.

In appeals filed on November 18 and November 21, WildEarth Guardians challenged decisions by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service authorizing the North Porcupine coal lease, a 700 million ton lease that would facilitate the expansion of Peabody Energy’s North Antelope Rochelle coal mine, the second largest coal mine in the world.

On September 30, the U.S. Forest Service consented to the North Porcupine coal lease.  Because portions of the North Porcupine coal lease include the Thunder Basin National Grassland, federal law prohibited coal leasing unless the Forest Service consented.  After issuing its consent, on October 17, the Bureau of Land Management made its decision to sell the North Porcupine coal lease and authorize more mining.

All told, the North Porcupine coal lease will lead to the release of more than 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide, further cementing the Powder River Basin as a root contributor to global warming in the U.S.

“The North Porcupine coal lease is the latest slap in the face to efforts to meaningfully address global warming,” said Nichols.  “Our aim is to keep this coal in the ground where it belongs.  With clean energy solutions at our fingertips, it is an abomination to ignore these solutions in favor of another one billion tons of carbon dioxide.”

The appeals are the latest in WildEarth Guardians’ efforts to stop or slow the pace of coal leasing and mining in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.  Thus far, WildEarth Guardians has appealed or filed suit in federal court over seven of the 15 pending coal leases in the Powder River Basin.

Both the Interior Department and the Forest Service have 45 days to respond to WildEarth Guardians’ appeals.  If unsuccessful, WildEarth Guardians intends to file suit in federal court to stop the North Porcupine coal lease.