U.S. officials launched a review Thursday of
climate damage caused by coal mining on
public lands as the Biden administration
expands its scrutiny of government fossil
fuel sales that contribute to greenhouse
gas emissions.
The review also will consider if companies are
paying fair value for coal extracted from public
reserves in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah
and other states.
Coal combustion for electricity remains one
of the top sources of U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions, even after many power plants shut
down over the past decade because of concerns
over pollution.
Almost half the nation’s annual coal production
— some 250 million tons last year — is mined by
private companies from leases on federal land,
primarily in Western states.
Coal lease sales were temporarily shut down
under President Barack Obama because of
climate concerns, then revived under President
Donald Trump as he sought to bolster the
declining industry.