The Trump administration has approved a plan to expand the Spring Creek coal mine in Big Horn County, Montana, reported Reuters. The expansion will allow 39.9 million tons of coal to be mined over the next 16 years.
The approval marks a victory for the mine, which has sought to increase production for nearly 20 years. Its expansion plans were stymied by a court order mandating a fresh federal environmental review in 2021. That analysis, noted the news agency, was published in January.
“By expanding access to our nation’s rich coal resources, we are not only bolstering our economy but also reinforcing our energy independence,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Walter Cruickshank.
Spring Creek is operated by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), which is wholly owned by the Navajo Nation. NTEC purchased the coal mine in 2019 from bankrupt Cloud Peak Energy. Spring Creek supplies coal domestically to Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington, as well as internationally to Japan and South Korea.
Sources: Reuters and U.S. Department of Interior