Federal mining officials are moving ahead with a new environmental assessment on coal mining operations at the Colowyo Mine near Craig, including the impacts of greenhouse gases on climate change.
On May 8, a federal district court ruling found the environmental assessment done in 2006 for the expansion of the mine on federal lands was insufficient.
Judge R. Brooke Jackson gave the federal Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement 120 days to address the issues.
One of the major deficiencies was a failure to assess the effects of burning coal, which creates the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, on the climate, the court ruling said.
In a notice May 21, the OSMRE said the new assessment would include evaluations of mining impacts on “surface and ground water, air quality, climate change and greenhouse gases.”
If the deficiencies aren’t addressed, the mine could be closed.
Colorado officials last week wrote letters to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who oversees the OSMRE, urging action to ensure that the mine stays open. “Colowyo employs 220 people (and) contributes over $200 million to the regional economy,” Gov. John Hickenlooper wrote.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet urged Jewell to seek an extension of the court deadline to complete the work.
The closure of the mine would have a “potentially devastating impact,” wrote U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton, both Republicans.