The Department of the Interior has approved a modification to the mining plan for the Bull Mountains coal mine in Montana. This decision is part of efforts to advance energy directives set by President Donald J. Trump and enhance U.S. energy partnerships internationally. The approval allows Signal Peak Energy, LLC to extract approximately 22.8 million tons of federal coal and 34.5 million tons of adjacent non-federal coal, potentially extending the mine's operations by up to nine years.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum stated, "This is what energy leadership looks like," emphasizing that accessing domestic coal resources supports job creation in the U.S. while bolstering alliances with international partners. He highlighted President Trump's declaration of a national energy emergency as pivotal in facilitating this decisive action aimed at achieving energy independence and strategic exports.
Located in Musselshell and Yellowstone Counties, the Bull Mountains Mine employs over 250 workers and plays a role in supplying critical energy exports to Japan and South Korea, both U.S. defense allies. The project is projected to contribute more than $1 billion in economic benefits locally, including wages, taxes, and business activity.
The Department completed an environmental impact statement under newly established alternative arrangements for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), following President Trump's national energy emergency declaration on January 20, 2025. This statement includes more extensive analysis than NEPA typically requires due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Adam Suess, Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, remarked on balancing economic prosperity with national security and environmental responsibility: “This decision reflects our commitment to balancing economic prosperity, national security, and environmental responsibility.”
The approval process included significant public participation led by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), featuring a public meeting, two comment periods, and consideration of 667 individual comments submitted by stakeholders.
Further details about the final Environmental Impact Statement, Record of Decision, and Mining Plan Approval are available on OSMRE.gov.
