WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior last week approved a major expansion of Wyoming’s Black Butte Mine and proposed rescinding a federal rule that elevated conservation above other uses of public lands, signaling the Trump administration’s intent to accelerate energy development and restore multiple-use management.
On Sept. 9, Interior approved a mining plan change for the Black Butte Mine in Sweetwater County, clearing the way for the Black Butte Coal Company to recover an additional 9.2 million tons of federal coal in two new areas. The mine, in operation since 1977, supplies coal to the Jim Bridger Power Plant and currently employs 56 full-time workers. The expansion could add more than 50 new jobs and extend the mine’s life through 2039.
“The Black Butte Mine expansion strengthens our nation’s Energy Dominance by responsibly unlocking federal coal resources,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said. “This decision also supports good-paying jobs in Wyoming and ensures the land is restored after mining, reflecting our commitment to both energy and environmental stewardship.”
Interior said the approval aligns with Trump administration priorities under recent executive orders promoting domestic energy production and clean coal technology. The Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement expedited the environmental review process, holding a 10-day public comment period and a virtual public meeting.
The following day, Interior announced a proposal to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s 2024 Public Lands Rule, also known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. That rule formally recognized conservation as an official use of public lands, placing it on par with energy, grazing, and recreation. Critics argued it created regulatory uncertainty and undermined BLM’s multiple-use mandate.
“The previous administration’s Public Lands Rule had the potential to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land – preventing energy and mineral production, timber management, grazing and recreation across the West,” Burgum said. “Overturning this rule protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on.”
Interior officials said rescinding the rule would restore BLM’s statutory mandate, prevent restrictions on traditional land uses, and return more authority to states, counties, and tribes. The department also framed the move as part of its broader push to reduce permitting delays and eliminate regulatory uncertainty for industries tied to public lands.
Together, the mine expansion and proposed rule change underscore the administration’s commitment to expanding domestic energy production while reaffirming multiple-use management across federal lands.
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