The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has released the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Navajo Transitional Energy Company's mining plan modification at the Spring Creek Mine in Montana. This proposal affects 162.5 acres and aims to extract an additional 39.9 million tons of coal. Several mining strategies were evaluated, including no mining, partial mining, and accelerated mining rates, with the partial mining alternative being preferred. The public was involved in the review process, and feedback was incorporated into the final EIS. The Department of the Interior's Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management will decide on the plan's approval in February 2025.
Simple Explanation
The government has looked at the plan for a company to dig up more coal from a place in Montana and has checked how it will affect the environment; now, they are asking people what they think before they decide if the company can go ahead.