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A beaver lodge by the Sunset Trail. The trail is a valuable linkage between the West Elk Wilderness Area and lowland forests along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. (Photo by Ted Zukoski)
case October 29, 2020

Protecting Colorado’s Mountain Backcountry

document October 29, 2020

Injunction Pending Appeal

Emergency Injunction
A beaver lodge in the Sunset Roadless Area. The area is home to species including elk, bear, beaver and goshawk. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release: Victory October 29, 2020

In Colorado, Federal Judges Block Coal Mining Construction in Protected Roadless Forest

The injunction prevents Mountain Coal from further destruction of the roadless forest in the West Elk Mountains until a challenge from conservation groups is resolved
feature March 3, 2020

The Fight To Defend The Sunset Roadless Area—And Our Climate

Will the Forest Service’s legacy be to protect our public lands to be enjoyed by all? Or to sacrifice them for long-term climate costs and a single coal company's short-term…
Effects of underground coal mining on Colorado's forests. The coal may be underground, but a tight web of industrial facilities is built through our forests to vent methane gas—a potent climate pollutant—from the coal seams. (U.S. Forest Service)
Press Release September 7, 2017

Statement of Conservation Groups on Trump’s Draft Decision Approving Coal Mining in Roadless Colorado Forest

Arch Coal seeks to expand West Elk’s coal mine leases into 1,700 acres of roadless wildlands
A beaver lodge in the Sunset Roadless Area. The area is home to species including elk, bear, beaver and goshawk. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release June 8, 2017

Trump Pushes Coal Mining In Roadless Forest Days After Repudiating Paris Climate Agreement

Forest Service pushes to mine next to West Elk Wilderness, giving Arch Coal access to more than 17 million tons of coal
The Sunset Roadless Area in Colorado, September, 2016. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release December 16, 2016

Obama Administration Signs Death Warrant for Colorado Roadless Forest, Jump-Starts Trump’s Attack on Climate

In a move that will undercut America’s clean energy industries, U.S. Forest Service opens 20,000 acres of national forest in Colorado to bulldozing roads for coal mining
Effects of underground coal mining on Colorado's forests. The coal may be underground, but a tight web of industrial facilities is built through our forests to vent methane gas—a potent climate pollutant—from the coal seams. (U.S. Forest Service)
Press Release November 17, 2016

Obama Administration Nears Final Approval of Controversial Coal Mine Loophole

U.S. Forest Service issues final environmental impact statement on plan to open 20,000 acres of national forest in Colorado to bulldozing roads for coal mining; move has huge climate costs,…
Effects of underground coal mining on Colorado's forests. The coal may be underground, but a tight web of industrial facilities is built through our forests to vent methane gas—a potent climate pollutant—from the coal seams. (U.S. Forest Service)
feature March 17, 2016

Coal’s Toll on Colorado’s Forests

Photos by the Forest Service—obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request—give graphic evidence of underground coal mining's impacts on Colorado landscapes that provide a home for black bear and…
Decker coal mine is located on public lands in Montana. The facility is co-owned by Cloud Peak and Ambre Energy, an Australian mining company. (WildEarth Guardians/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Article January 26, 2016

How Obama Can Prove He’s Changing Direction on Federal Coal

The Obama administration needs to step up and keep coal in the ground on federal lands where mining coal has huge known impacts.
Effects of underground coal mining on Colorado's forests. The coal may be underground, but a tight web of industrial facilities is built through our forests to vent methane gas—a potent climate pollutant—from the coal seams. (U.S. Forest Service)
Press Release January 20, 2016

150,000+ Comments Oppose Coal-mining Loophole on Colorado Forest

Subsidies to Arch Coal slammed; renewable energy groups join wildlife, climate advocates in opposition
Flagging tape in the Sunset Roadless Area identifies the location of a proposed coal exploration drilling pad. The forest visible will likely be bulldozed if the loophole is reopened. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release November 19, 2015

Forest Service Revs Up Push to Open Over 170 Million Tons of Coal to Mining from Colorado Roadless Forest

Proposed loophole could cause millions of tons of carbon pollution, undermine Obama administration climate goals, and degrade wildlife habitat
document July 17, 2015

FOIA Request to Forest Service GMUG and Rocky Mountain Region

RE: Coal Mine Exception to Colorado Roadless Rule, and North Fork Gunnison Coal
Hikers make their way through aspens in the Sunset Roadless Area. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release May 26, 2015

Coalition Submits 100,000+ Comments Opposing a Coal Mining Loophole on Public Lands

Bulldozing roads for coal mining would damage wildlife, increase climate change emissions
A breathtaking view of a beaver pond in the Sunset Roadless area. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release April 6, 2015

Forest Service Moves to Permit Bulldozing for Dirty Coal in Colorado Roadless Forest

Proposed loophole could cause half a billion tons of carbon pollution while undermining Obama administration climate goals
A beaver lodge in the Sunset Roadless Area. The area is home to species including elk, bear, beaver and goshawk. (Ted Zukoski / Earthjustice)
Press Release November 12, 2014

Obama Administration and Arch Coal Decline to Appeal Judgment on Colorado's Backcountry Roadless Area

The lack of an appeal finalizes a victory judgment for conservation groups
Aspens in Colorado's Gunnison National Forest. Pilot Knob and Sunset Roadless Area in the cross-hairs of fossil fuel development. (Photo courtesy of Jared Loftus)
Article October 16, 2014

Why These Colorado Aspen Trees Should Quake

Autumn’s beauty was on full display in Colorado’s aspen forests late last month. So was the Obama administration’s schizophrenic approach to climate and public lands policy.
document September 12, 2014

West Elk Court Order