A federal judge has blocked two new Montana laws intended to stop public challenges to coal mine permits.

Justice Brian Morris put a 210-day pause on the laws so that federal agencies can determine whether the Montana Legislature’s work is inconsistent with federal surface mining, clean air, and clean water laws. Review by federal agencies is not only common, but required.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Citizens for Clean Energy, Montana Environmental Information Center, Sierra Club and Wildearth Guardians.