The U.S. Department of the Interior announced next steps in its sweeping review of the federal coal leasing program.
The department will hold six meetings across the country this summer, including one in Grand Junction. The goal is to get public input to help inform the scope of the review.
The news comes after Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced a moratorium on new federal coal leases this January. The department wants to review a wide range of things including royalty rates. It’s also looking at new ways to weigh the environmental and public health impacts of coal production.
Colorado coal production recently reached a 23-year low according to state data. The industry has seen multiple bankruptcy filings including industry giant Arch Coal in January.
