Signal Peak Energy President and CEO Parker Phipps told Yellowstone County Commissioners that unless it can expand onto federal land, Montana’s only underground coal mine could cease operations next year, reported local media.
Phipps said the Bull Mountain mine is facing potential closure after U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy halted Signal Peak from beginning a 175-million-ton expansion until the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement studies the environmental impacts of the mine.
Signal Peak has filed a lawsuit seeking a timely review from the agency. Phipps said a pause in production is not an option as 99% of its coal is shipped to Asia, and a delay could cause the miner to lose customers.
Phipps said Signal Peak will continue fighting to keep the mine operational.
Bull Mountain is located 40 miles north of Billings.
Source: Billings Gazette