Revive Ban on Federal Coal Leasing, States, Groups Urge Court

The Trump administration improperly restarted the federal coal leasing program without adequate environmental review and without considering whether the program is in the public interest, environmental groups, states, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe told a Montana federal court.

The Biden administration revoked the previous Interior Department secretary’s order in April, but the department has yet to reinstate the moratorium on coal leasing, the plaintiffs say in motions for summary judgment filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.

The decision to restart the coal leasing program violates the National Environmental Policy Act, Mineral Leasing Act, and Federal ...