On March 14, the Powder River Basin Resource Council, WORC, and The Wilderness Society filed motions in Wyoming federal district court to intervene in litigation brought by Cloud Peak Energy against the Department of the Interior’s federal coal royalty valuation … Continued
A January 11 report on the review of the federal coal program received praise from members of WORC. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the review a year ago in response to calls from citizens across the nation, including … Continued
Wyoming regulators are looking into enacting new regulations regarding the bonding of oil and gas wastewater treatment facilities. Oil and gas wastewater facilities are also known as Commercial Oilfield Waste Disposal Facilities or COWDFs. COWDFs treat wastewater from oil and … Continued
On August 9, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (“OSMRE”) published a Policy Advisory that directs state regulatory agencies to restrict the use and approval of self-bonding. The Policy Advisory outlines three policy suggestions for states to … Continued
As part of an agreement with the Department of Interior and other U.S. regulatory agencies, Alpha Natural Resources will replace its controversial self-bonds for the company’s Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr Mines in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. On … Continued
In Casper, in Salt Lake City, in Knoxville, in Seattle, in Grand Junction, and in Billings, WORC members made a strong case to reform federal coal leasing and detailed issues that need to be addressed. Scoping hearings around the country drew big … Continued
This month, Powder River Basin Resource Council members teamed up with the Sheridan County Extension to open a new Seed Library in Sheridan County, Wyoming. According to the Sheridan Press: “The Sheridan County Seed Library is a collection of open-pollinated … Continued
Prominent Senators from Washington State and Illinois launched a congressional investigation of coal self bonding for mine reclamation allowed by some states, including Wyoming. Taxpayers are potentially on the hook for over a billion dollars worth of reclamation work after two major … Continued
Land use plans to keep open vast amounts of public land in Montana and Wyoming for fossil fuel development are short-sighted and fail to consider dramatic changes in energy markets that make such thinking both obsolete and financially risky, a coalition … Continued
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently held public hearings regarding its proposed oil and gas methane emissions and waste reduction rules. WORC groups turned out members to support a strong BLM methane waste rule at hearings in Dickinson, N.D, … Continued