Coal mines have faced closures since 2010 due to federal regulations, greater industry scrutiny and price fluctuations in the commodity market. Many coal companies now confront new federal reviews that take into account the environmental impact of greenhouse gases and global warming.
Judges in Denver ruled in 2014 and 2015 that federal agencies that approve activities in coal mines must account for a facility's indirect environmental impact due the burning of the fossil fuel. Normal scrutiny includes coal dust, worker safety, water runoff from the mine and equipment emissions that could cause explosions in the mines. This new level of regulation comes from the court system rather than the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
In some instances, government lawyers for the Obama administration could be forced to defend coal mines in court. This action could put the president at odds with policies aimed to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases and reduce emissions into the atmosphere.
The court cases revolved around a single coal mine in northwestern Colorado. The litigation also focused on federal leases to extract coal, which account for 40 percent of the nation's coal production. Although the rulings in Colorado affect just one mine, companies fear other coal mines could face possible shutdowns if other legal challenges occur using this litigation as a precedent.
Energy companies state coal mines cannot be measured by how much pollution they create because other countries, including China and India, don't have such strict regulations. China spews more carbon emissions into the atmosphere than the United States. Some coal industry analysts feel these new reviews add even more burdens to coal companies in an industry that already faces greater scrutiny than most.
Environmentalists filed these lawsuits in federal court claiming the public should have more say in whether or not citizens want coal to be burned in power plants. The group, WildEarth Guardians, filed suit on a few cases in Colorado and Montana, while another group sued a Navajo coal mine in New Mexico.
Some economists believe these tighter reviews could hurt the United States' ability to export coal. The U.S. government — particularly the Department of the Interior — has said it shall review the regulations before deciding on further action.
Some energy companies make sure coal-fired power plants reduce emissions as much as possible. DTE Energy in Michigan finished a 14-year retrofit of its massive Monroe Power Plant in October 2014 to become the cleanest such facility in the country. The work lasted from 2000 to 2014 at a cost of $2 billion. DTE Energy looked at the overall scope of the project that included adding 900 jobs to the local economy and energy efficiency of the plant's operations.
Coal mines don't necessarily have to bear the entire brunt of an initiative to reduce global warming. Power plants, automakers, oil companies and individual consumers must also step up and face greater scrutiny in order to lower America's carbon footprint.
Photo courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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