Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary | official facebook
The Department of the Interior has approved a change to the mining plan for the Black Butte Mine in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. This approval will allow the Black Butte Coal Company to extract approximately 9.2 million tons of federal coal from two new areas, Pit 15 and Pit 10.
The mine, which began operations in 1977, supplies coal to the Jim Bridger Power Plant and supports employment on federal, state, and private lands. With this expansion, operations at the mine are expected to continue until at least 2039. The project is anticipated to create more than 50 new jobs; currently, there are 56 full-time workers at the site.
"The Black Butte Mine expansion strengthens our nation’s Energy Dominance by responsibly unlocking federal coal resources," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "This decision also supports good-paying jobs in Wyoming and ensures the land is restored after mining, reflecting our commitment to both energy and environmental stewardship."
The decision aligns with priorities outlined in Executive Orders 14154 and 14241, which focus on increasing domestic energy production while maintaining responsible management of public lands.
The Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement accelerated its environmental review under alternative arrangements set by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), aiming to streamline approvals for energy projects. The process included a ten-day public comment period as well as a virtual public meeting.
Further details about the mining plan change can be found at https://www.osmre.gov/laws-and-regulations/nepa/projects.
