FLAGSTAFF — The Sierra Club is praising a judge's ruling against Peabody Western Coal Company and its attempt to operate two mines near Kayenta under one permit.
Interior Department Administrative Law Judge Robert Holt ruled Tuesday the federal Office of Surface Mining violated federal environmental law by not changing its description of a project and related impacts to the environment as the mining proposal changed and major water-infrastructure projects were dropped.
Sierra Club spokesman Andy Bessler says the Department of Interior made the right decision in allowing Black Mesa communities into the decision-making process.
Bessler calls it a testament to community members in and around Black Mesa who stood up to Peabody and would not allow the company a rubber stamp to mine more coal there.
