Biden proposes coal mining restrictions in ND

The Biden administration is proposing to restrict the federal lands that are open for future coal mining in North Dakota — though it says the effort is not expected to impact how much coal is produced there for many years.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a plan this week that, if finalized, would reduce the amount of federal land that could be leased for new coal development by about 90.5 percent.

The administration said that this is not expected to impact coal production levels through the year 2040. However, it noted that the plan “would preclude the development of future mines.”

North Dakota accounts for about 5 percent of the nation’s coal. The plan only applies to mining on land that is owned by the government.

Wendy Warren, the BLM’s Eastern Montana/Dakotas district manager, said in a written statement that the plan “represents a significant step forward in guiding public land use and balancing energy and mineral development.”

Still, the proposal received pushback from Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who said in a statement that it “stifles North Dakota’s energy development and our production.”