The Montana Department of Environmental Quality released a draft environmental impact statement for an expansion at the Spring Creek coal mine northeast of Decker, opening a 30-day comment period for the proposed revision.
The 72 million-ton expansion of the mine in the Big Horn County will occur within the mine's existing permit boundary, which encompasses 9,220 acres. The expansion project would add 977 acres of new mining disturbance, increasing the total disturbance area to 7,111 acres. The expansion is expected extend the life of the mine by four years, to approximately 2031 from 2027.
Alongside two other Wyoming mines, Spring Creek is currently owned by Cloud Peak Energy Inc., which is in the midst of a bankruptcy reorganization. The mines were recently sold through a bankruptcy auction to a New Mexico-based company Navajo Transitional Energy Co. LLC. Subject to bankruptcy court approval, the transaction of the three mines is expected to close in October.
The DEQ will conduct an open house Sept. 11 in Hardin, Mont., and has opened a 30-day public comment period. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Sept. 26.
