The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is requesting public comment on the largest coal mine expansion in memory. The Rosebud coal mine provides coal to the Colstrip coal-fired power plant, causing Colstrip to be one of the largest greenhouse gas polluters in the nation. Tell DEQ to say NO to this huge expansion and its resulting 294 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions!
The newest proposal, known as AM5, would dwarf all previous mine expansions and add 9,108 acres and up to 147 million tons of coal to the mine – all in record time. This expansion, combined with another large expansion DEQ approved just last year, would increase the size of the mine by 65% and provide the Colstrip plant with coal until beyond 2050! The plant only burns about 6 million tons of coal each year.
This wrong-headed proposal would deepen the climate crisis and cause harm to fish, wildlife, and agriculture by allowing the mine to further pollute waterways already contaminated by the mine and the Colstrip power plant. DEQ is accepting public comment on a draft environmental impact statement. You can read MEIC’s fact sheet regarding this proposal and its impacts.
To submit a comment, sign the accompanying petition or send comments by November 23rd to rosebud-mine-area-b-eis@eroresources.com with the subject line “Attn: Rosebud Mine Area B AM5 EIS.”
DEQ is also hosting an online public meeting and hearing to provide information on the proposed Project and to accept public testimony Tuesday, November 10th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST via Zoom. You can register for the event here.
It’s time to tell DEQ, enough is enough. Our future and a healthy climate are worth more than 147 million tons of coal!
