The Department of the Interior’s coal leasing program has a huge impact on communities directly affected by coal mining, as well as for our country’s taxpayers and our global climate. The Federal coal program regulates how leases are granted, how royalties are determined, how reclamation is done, and more.

And it should surprise everyone that the Department’s coal program hasn’t been updated in nearly 40 years.

But now, the coal leasing program us up for review, and we have a unique opportunity to make our voices heard loud and clear in how we want coal leasing to be done in the future.

WHAT: BLM Public Scoping Hearing on the Federal Coal Leasing Program
WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 2016
WHERE: The Avalon Theater, Grand Junction

 

The outdated federal coal program needs significant reforms. Since the program’s last major update, the coal industry and the marketplace have drastically changed, and our understanding of coal mining’s environmental, socio-economic and climate impacts has grown considerably.

The current coal program costs taxpayers $1 billion per year, and only 14% of all coal-mined land across Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico has been reclaimed.

Coal is a significant part of the Western Slope economy in Colorado, and all our lives are impacted by coal mining. It’s time for our voices to be heard by the Interior Department in how the coal program needs to be reformed. Our lives and our futures – and the future of our climate – depend on a good and strong reform of the coal program.

So sign up now to get involved. Whether its helping with the planning and helping get more Western Slope residents there to speak, signing up as a speaker yourself, or just being there as a citizen witness, we need you! SIGN UP in the form above, or click here to go to the sign up sheet directly.

For questions, contact WCC Organizer Sabrina King at sabrina@westerncoloradoalliance.org