The Latest: Judge: Study less mining for top US coal region

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Latest on a judge’s ruling on coal mining and climate change (all times local):

2:15 p.m.

A judge has ruled U.S. government officials engaged in regional planning for an area that supplies 40 per cent of the nation’s coal must consider reducing coal mining to fight climate change.

Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls, Montana, applies to the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana.

Morris rejected U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials’ argument that climate change could be addressed during evaluations of plans for individual mine expansions.

The judge told the government and environmental groups to work together on additional planning for the top U.S. coal producing region.

Environmentalists praised the ruling but Morris denied their request to halt mining.

BLM spokesman Brad Purdy says the federal agency is reviewing the ruling before deciding what to do next.

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1:15 p.m.

A judge has ruled U.S. government officials engaged in regional planning for an area that supplies 40 per cent of the nation’s coal must consider reducing coal mining to fight climate change.

Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls, Montana, applies to the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana.

Morris rejected U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials’ argument that climate change could be addressed during evaluations of plans for individual mine expansions.

The judge told the government and environmental groups to work together on additional planning for the top U.S. coal producing region.

Environmentalists praised the ruling but Morris denied their request to halt mining.

Land management bureau officials and coal industry representatives did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.