Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s plan to halt federal coal production in the Powder River Basin, a region responsible for 85% of all coal produced on federal land.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, contends that the administration’s actions will devastate Montana’s coal industry and broader economy.
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This legal action marks the 59th lawsuit filed by Knudsen against the Biden administration and targets the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recent federal land-use plans, which the lawsuit argues violate established laws like the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Mineral Leasing Act (MLA).
“The Biden administration’s plan will effectively kill our nation’s coal industry by halting new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin,” said Knudsen. “In Montana, we need coal — it fuels our economy and heats our homes during subzero winters. Rather than prioritizing what’s best for Montanans and Americans across the country, Biden is catering to radical environmentalists.”
The Powder River Basin, spanning northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana, is a cornerstone of U.S. coal production, providing a significant source of energy and economic support for both states. The lawsuit accuses the BLM of disregarding federal statutes and historical collaboration with states in its decision to halt new coal leasing in the region.
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The suit alleges that:
- BLM Ignored Congressional Mandates: Federal laws like FLPMA, NEPA, and MLA require coordination with states when managing federal lands containing mineral resources, a mandate the lawsuit claims was disregarded.
- Local Concerns Were Overlooked: Despite objections from state agencies, counties, industry groups, and members of Congress, the BLM proceeded with its plan, disregarding the economic and environmental impacts.
- Devastating Economic Impacts: The lawsuit argues that the federal coal leasing halt represents an “unjustified and unreasonable” shift that will have far-reaching economic consequences for Montana and Wyoming.
The lawsuit highlights that coal production fuels the economy in both states, with Montana heavily reliant on coal for heating during harsh winters. The halt on new federal coal leases is seen as a “devastating blow” to the region’s energy infrastructure and economic stability.
Attorney General Knudsen is seeking to have the court vacate the BLM’s Buffalo Field Office and Miles City Field Office Resource Management Plan Amendments, which effectively end new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin.
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“This abrupt and unilateral action by the federal government is unsupported by law and dismissive of the livelihoods of those in Montana and Wyoming who depend on coal production,” Knudsen added.
The lawsuit is part of a broader push by coal-producing states to challenge federal policies they argue disproportionately harm their economies. If successful, the legal challenge could reverse the BLM’s decision and reinstate new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin.
The Biden administration has not yet issued a response to the lawsuit.
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