Senators from Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota are among those asking the government to suspend its review of the federal coal program.
In January, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced a comprehensive review of the federal coal program, and a moratorium on new coal leasing while that review is underway.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Jewell, a group of nine senators says the outcome of the review is “pre-baked.” As evidence for that claim, they cite a recent report issued by the President’s Council of Economic Advisors that already finds serious flaws in the federal coal program.
Most of the coal mined in the West is owned by the federal government. Critics have long said the program needs to be updated to reflect new concerns about climate change and to ensure taxpayers receive a fair price for the publicly owned resource.