Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary | official facebook
The Department of the Interior has approved a modification to the mining plan for the Rosebud Mine, located in Rosebud and Treasure counties, Montana. This decision allows for the extraction of about 33.75 million tons of federal coal and will extend operations at the mine through 2039. The expansion is noted as the second-largest federal coal mine expansion approved since the start of the second Trump administration.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement stated that this move will support more than 300 jobs in Montana and is expected to strengthen the state's economy. Coal from the Rosebud Mine supplies power to both the Colstrip and Rosebud power plants, which together have a generation capacity exceeding 1,500 megawatts—enough electricity for over a million homes. The annual royalties paid to the federal government from this operation are projected to be over $9 million.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess said, “This administration is focused on unleashing American energy, creating good-paying jobs and restoring economic certainty for our communities. By responsibly developing our domestic coal resources, we’re reducing reliance on foreign energy, strengthening national security and powering America’s future.”
The modification aligns with President Trump’s Executive Orders 14241 and 14261, which aim to increase mineral production in the United States and support clean coal initiatives. It also supports Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum’s focus on energy independence, rural prosperity, and regulatory certainty.
Project documents related to this decision can be found at www.osmre.gov/programs/regulating-active-coal-mines/federal-lands and www.osmre.gov/laws-and-regulations/nepa/projects.
