03.29.17

Cantwell Statement on Coal Leasing Moratorium

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement in response to the news that Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke had signed an order ending a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands and a review of the leasing program. The moratorium and review were  put into place by the Obama administration.

“Coal companies have been getting their product off public lands on the cheap for decades.  It has been over 30 years since their leasing rules and royalties were updated. The last administration tried to fix this and get taxpayers a fair deal. Secretary Zinke just cancelled that.”

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