The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Friday, June 6 it’s granting a mine plan modification request for the Bull Mountains mine, near Roundup.
The approval allows developer Signal Peak Energy to mine roughly 23 million tons of federal coal and 35 million tons of connecting non-federal coal. According to numbers in the environmental analysis, that expands mineable coal in the area by nearly 500 percent and extends the mine’s life from 1 year to up to 9 years.
Signal Peak Energy exports to Asian markets and has been trying for years to increase the mine’s coal access and longevity, with opposition from environmental groups and some local ranchers concerned about the impact to water quality and other environmental consequences.
The Trump administration granted approval through emergency permitting procedures aimed at boosting domestic mineral development, which expedited its environmental review.
Local advocacy groups reacted with disappointment to the end of a 16-year wait for a decision, while Montana leadership celebrated the expansion as a win for domestic energy and U.S. exports.
