Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Judge throws out one suit aimed at blocking federal coal leasing in Powder River Basin

A judge has ruled in favor of the federal government in a coal leasing case we reported last August. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly "rejected an attempt by environmentalists to challenge the upcoming sale of federal coal reserves in Wyoming's Powder River Basin," The Associated Press reports.

Defenders of Wildlife, WildEarth Guardians and the Sierra Club filed the lawsuit last August based on "worries that burning the coal could make climate change worse," but Kollar-Kotelly said the groups failed to adequately support their claim of a flaw in the Interior Department's leasing program, AP reports. Another lawsuit by the group is pending. (Read more)

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