Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Denver—A coalition of conservation groups is in federal court today arguing that the Trump Administration illegally approved an expansion of a coal mine in western Colorado’s iconic backcountry.

At issue is Arch Coal’s West Elk mine, which is located on the northern flanks of the iconic West Elk mountains east of the town of Paonia.  The mine underlies roadless National Forest Lands, but Arch has to drill methane venting wells above the workings leading to extensive road building, well drilling, and methane venting.

Click here to see pictures of methane venting development above the West Elk mine >>

The West Elk mine is the largest single industrial source of methane in Colorado.  Combined the climate impacts of burning coal, the mine is one of the largest contributors to the climate crisis in Colorado.

Last July, WildEarth Guardians, High Country Conservation Advocates, the Center for Biological Diversity, Wilderness Workshop and the Sierra Club filed suit to block the latest expansion of the mine.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, confronts head-on the Trump Administration’s climate denial.  The case challenges the Administration failed to limit emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and tackles the Administration’s refusal to fully account for the climate implications of more mining.

If successful, the case stands to prevent Arch Coal from expanding the West Elk mine by nearly 2,000 acres and would stall nearly 18 million tons of new coal mining over three years.  It would also give a reprieve to the public lands that would otherwise be despoiled by the mine expansion.

Today the federal court will hear arguments in the case.  WildEarth Guardians’ Staff Attorney, Daniel Timmons, and Sierra Club Attorney, Nathaniel Shoaff, will be arguing the case.

The hearing starts at 1:30 PM at the Alfred Arraj federal courthouse in Denver.  A ruling on the case is expected by the end of the year.