More Coal Mining In Colorado Gets Regulators' Preliminary OK
DENVER (AP) — Federal regulators have given the initial go-ahead to more coal extraction at a western Colorado site under a plan that calls for the mining company to donate 4,500 acres for the greater sage grouse.
On Wednesday, the Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement released their assessment of the environmental impact of a proposal by Colowyo Coal to continue working reserves in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties for which the first BLM leases were made in 1982. The agencies found the project would have no significant impact.
A first draft of the proposal had led to concerns about the impact on the greater sage grouse, a ground dwelling bird whose numbers are declining. Wildlife officials helped work out an alternative under which Colowyo would reduce the amount it had initially planned to mine and take steps to protect the bird, including giving the state 4,543 acres as habitat.
The project is unaffected by last week's decision by the Obama administration to impose a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in announcing the pause that after 30 years, it was time for a review to ensure taxpayers were getting the most out of the program and that climate change concerns were being addressed.
Jeremy Nichols of the environmental group WildEarth Guardians said that in light of the moratorium, Wednesday's environmental assessment was "disconcerting."
"It's time for the Interior Department to help our nation move beyond coal," he said, adding that while he had not yet fully reviewed the assessment, he was skeptical the project would provide meaningful greater sage grouse protection.
The federal government announced last year that it would not list the bird as endangered or threatened after state officials, ranchers and the energy industry helped work out a plan to protect grouse habitat in 11 Western states.
Colowyo Coal Company is a subsidiary of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which supplies 44 electric cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Colowyo Mine produces coal for a Tri-State power plant in Craig, 145 miles northwest of Denver.
Tri-State said in a statement that extending mining in Moffat and Rio Blanco, a project known as Collom, would keep 220 jobs in Colorado. Federal regulators said that without adding land to be mined, production at the site could end around 2019.
Tri-State said the mining contributes more than $200 million a year to the regional economy and $12 million a year in local, state and federal tax revenue.
The public has until Feb. 18 to respond to the impact assessment released Wednesday, after which regulators will review comments and may make changes before issuing a final decision. Lee Boughey, a spokesman for Tri-State, said Wednesday the company hoped a mining plan would be approved by fall.
- By DONNA BRYSON, AP Writer
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