The Independent View: Judge Rules U.S. Can't Delay Challenge To Public Land Coal Sales

A U.S. Judge, has Rejected the Biden Administration's attempt to Delay a Lawsuit, from Several States and Environmentalists, who are seeking to End Lease Sales for Coal Mining on Federal Lands.

A Judge, says U.S Officials Downplayed the Climate Change Impacts and other Environmental Costs from the Expansion of a Massive Coal Mine near the Montana-Wyoming Border, in a Case that could show how far the Biden Administration is, willing to go, to Unwind his Predecessors' Decisions.

The Coal Leasing Program was Temporarily Shut Down under President Obama, because of concerns about Climate Change, and then Revived by the Trump Administration. There have been Few sales in the years since, because the Use of Coal has Plummeted as Utilities turn to Cleaner-Burning Fuels.

But Environmentalists want to Shut-Down the Program Permanently, and have been Frustrated by the Biden Administration's attempts to Delay a Legal Challenge pending before U.S. District Judge, Brian Morris, in Montana.

Morris issued an Order, late Thursday, Denying the Biden Administration's Attempt to Delay the Case for another Three months, after already being Granted a Two-Month Extension in March.

Morris said Lease Applications are Pending for Thousands of Acres of Land holding at least 1 Billion Tons of Coal, and the Plaintiffs in the Case, face potential Damage if their Challenge to the Program is Stalled by the Administration.

California, New Mexico, New York, and Washington State, Sued after then-Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, Revived Coal Lease Sales in 2017.

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe joined by the Sierra Club and other Environmental Groups also filed a Legal Challenge, while State Officials from Wyoming and Montana, have Argued Against reviving the Moratorium.

In April, Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, Canceled Zinke's Order. But Officials said that did Not Automatically Reinstate the Coal Moratorium and Haaland said her Agency needed to further Review the Issue.

Attorneys for the Tribe and Environmental Groups, said in Court Documents, that the Haaland Order was Not Enough, and asked Morris to Intervene so that a Moratorium on Coal Sales is Restored.

“Although the Biden administration has identified the critical need to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, Federal Defendants have not yet signaled any change from the prior administration’s coal-leasing policy that is a major source of such emissions,” wrote Earthjustice Attorney Jenny Harbine, who Represents Environmental Groups and the Northern Cheyenne.

One of the Problems is the Current U.S. Energy Demands. The Reduction of One Energy Source should be Dependent on the Renewable Energy Sources abilities to Cover the Loss. Then their is the Cost to the Consumer, required to Upgrade their Equipment, to use the New Energy Source.