Trump Administration Begins Process to Reopen Powder River Basin to New Coal Leasing

The Department of Interior has announced planned amendments to two resource management plans for the Powder River Basin, a move that almost certainly seeks to reopen the region to new coal leasing. Notices of intent to begin the amendment process will be published in the federal register on July 8, launching a 30-day comment period on new coal leasing.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management ended new coal leasing on public lands in Wyoming and Eastern Montana’s Powder River Basin in 2024, recognizing both lagging demand and the advancing climate crisis. In a last-ditch effort to revive the struggling coal industry, the states of Montana and Wyoming subsequently sued to block the Biden administration’s decision on leasing. The Northern Cheyenne Tribe, alongside tribal and conservation groups, intervened to defend the Biden administration’s decision earlier this year.

Congressional Republicans last week passed — and President Trump signed into law — the biggest coal giveaway in history in the form of a budget reconciliation bill that slashes coal royalty rates, offers millions of acres of public land for expanded coal mining, and mandates mine permit approvals.

“The administration is pursuing yet another unwarranted coal giveaway by moving to reopen the Powder River Basin to new coal leasing,” said Jenny Harbine, managing attorney for Earthjustice’s Northern Rockies Office. “Just last year, the Bureau of Land Management found it impossible to justify continued coal leasing in the Powder River Basin considering the abundant coal already under lease, shrinking demand, and the imperative to phase out fossil fuel development to address the climate crisis. The administration’s efforts to expand coal mining on our public lands are no more justified now and will sell out our communities to further enrich coal industry executives.”