Interior Takes Aim at Transparency by Gutting Freedom of Information Act
Department of Interior’s proposed modifications to the Freedom of Information Act will make it much harder for the public to access information.
coal
WORC Files Injunction to Stop Secret Royalty Policy Committee Meetings
On January 16th, WORCand Democracy Forward Foundation, argued in federal district court that the U.S. Department of Interior must stop convening any meetings or conducting any further business of the Royalty Policy Committee (RPC) until it balances the committee’s industry-dominated membership, opens secretive subcommittee meetings, and discloses committee-members’ conflicts of interests.
Coal Train Derailment Offers Lesson on Danger of Fossil Fuel on Rails
Between proposed coal export terminals and expanding oil production, more fuel is on the rails than ever–with potentially disastrous consequences.
Current State of Coal Industry and Mineral Tax Collection Creates a Tax Time-bomb
These four tax collection reforms could save Wyoming counties millions in unpaid taxes.
Coal miners: Westmoreland bosses for naughty list, not bonuses
Above: The Kemmerer Mine serves as a backdrop to PacifiCorp’s Naughton Plant, which is a major consumer of the mine’s coal, but is set to shut down coal-burning operations at one of its three units by the end of January … Continued
WORC Asks Court to Stop Secretive RPC from Giving Fossil Fuel Industry Illegal Influence over Federal Mineral Extraction
WORC and Democracy Forward Demand End to Closed Door Meetings that Develop Policies Harmful to Western Ranchers, Landowners and Communities. Today, Western Organization of Resource Councils and Democracy Forward filed a preliminary injunction in our ongoing lawsuit to stop the … Continued
Is Cloud Peak using BIA to force Crow family to give up their land to mine coal?
Above: Wayne Moccasin points at where a strip coal mine proposed by Gillette-based Cloud Peak Energy would head through his family’s land. Together with four of his siblings, he has declined leasing offers from the coal company even as the Crow … Continued
Wyoming Advisory Board Advances Good Self-bonding Rules
As demand for coal continues to fall, new rules reduce the threat that Wyoming taxpayers will be stuck with cleanup costs when coal mines go bankrupt. On September 19, the Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Land Quality Advisory Board … Continued
WORC speaks out against Royalty Policy Committee’s lack of transparency and creating rules outside of its jurisdiction.
WORC members outline multiple areas of concern and possible illegality associated with the Royalty Policy Committee. On September 13th, 2018, Ryan Zinke’s industry-stacked Royalty Policy Committee met in Denver, Colorado. WORC was there, represented by Western Colorado Alliance member Barbara Vasquez. … Continued
Investigation of Ramaco Principals Reveals Shady History
Coal company trying to open new mine in Wyoming led by brothers convicted in “one of the largest tax fraud cases ever filed”. Note: In recent years, landowners near Sheridan, Wyo., banded together with Powder River Basin Resource Council to … Continued