by Katy Spence
When it rains, it pours, and the federal government is opening the skies. On the eve of our Down to Earth deadline, with every article planned and penned and half the staff out for a summer break, the Department of Interior announced its release of an updated environmental review and approval of a massive expansion for the Rosebud coal mine that feeds the Colstrip plant.
Cartoon by J.C. Moore, used with permission.
This approval greenlights the mining and burning of 33.75 million tons of federal coal and 37 million tons of privately-owned coal across more than 4,200 acres. This is a staggering amount of coal to inject into an industry that’s been steadily declining for well over a decade. It’s clear this is nothing more than a last-ditch lifeline to an industry we should be thoughtfully and purposefully transitioning away from. Not to mention that this approval ignores Montanans’ right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes a healthy climate.
Other parts of the mine are still in litigation for insufficient environmental analyses, and you can bet MEIC won’t let federal approval slide without examining every possible avenue for opposition.
This article was published in the September 2025 issue of Down To Earth.
