The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has approved a modification to the federal mining plan for Spring Creek Mine in Big Horn County, Montana. This decision extends the mine’s operational life by 16 years, allowing the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) to extract an additional 39.9 million tons of federal coal. The extension will also secure 280 full-time jobs.
Extension of Spring Creek Mine’s Operational Life
This new approval grants the Spring Creek Mine permission to continue operations for an extended period. With the approval, NTEC can now extract more coal, meeting both domestic and international demand. The mine supplies coal to markets in Arizona, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, as well as international buyers in Japan and South Korea.
US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, stated: “The previous administration waged a full-on assault against US energy. Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re reversing that course, unleashing American energy, and ensuring our nation’s security and prosperity.”
Policy Support for Domestic Energy Production
The approval aligns with the broader agenda of the Trump administration to reduce regulatory restrictions and promote domestic energy production. Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” and Interior Secretary’s Order 3421, “Achieving Prosperity Through Deregulation,” support this policy direction.
The decision follows a 2021 ruling from the US District Court for the District of Montana. The court determined that the original environmental analysis was insufficient. In response, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) conducted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess various mining alternatives and their environmental effects.
Spring Creek Mine’s Operations and Capacity
Spring Creek Mine has been operational since 1980, with a permitted mining capacity of 36 million tons per year. The mine uses dragline mining, supplemented by truck and shovel operations to extract coal. It primarily produces 9,350 Btu thermal coal and maintains an annual output of 10 to 15 million tons. Additionally, the facility has a processed coal storage capacity of 30,000 tons. It is serviced by BNSF Railway at NERCO Junction, Montana, with a full-loop rail loading system that can handle five unit trains.
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