Berks County News

Today, the Congressional Coal Caucus Co-Chairs expressed approval of a recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court's decision overturned a previous district court ruling that had resulted in a nationwide injunction against federal coal leases. These leases had been blocked pending an additional environmental impact review by the Bureau of Land Management.

The Ninth Circuit agreed with arguments presented by the National Mining Association and the states of Wyoming and Montana. They contended that the case should have concluded once the 2021 Department of Interior Secretarial Order was rescinded following challenges.

In response to this development, Representatives Dan Meuser (R-PA), Carol Miller (R-WV), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued a statement. "We have witnessed over and over again the devastating impact of President Obama’s and now President Biden’s war on coal. We applaud the Ninth Circuit for following the law and ending this injunction on federal coal leases," they said. The co-chairs emphasized the importance of unlocking America's energy resources amid international tensions, inflation, and high energy prices.

The Congressional Coal Caucus serves as a representative body for American coal communities in Congress. It includes members from both eastern and western mining states and advocates for all types of coal production across the nation.