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DEQ Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Mine Amendment to the Spring Creek Coal Mine

  • Moira Davin
  • August 11 2023

HELENA—Today, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the potential impacts from the proposed fifth amendment to the surface mine permit (C1979012) of an existing coal mine near Decker, Montana.  The Spring Creek Mine is operated by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC (NTEC).  The proposed amendment is to add a haul road extending to the Wyoming border.

If the project is approved, 4,334 acres would be added to the existing permit area for a haul road south of the existing Spring Creek Mine to the State of Montana border. The mine operation plan and reclamation plan would be updated to include the additional disturbance.

A draft EIS was published for public review and comment for 46 days, in July of 2018. DEQ held a public meeting on July 17, 2018, in Hardin to provide information and accept comment on the draft EIS. The original application was submitted under Cloud Peak Energy which underwent a bankruptcy proceeding. NTEC assumed ownership of the mine in 2019 and resolved outstanding application deficiencies in 2023.

DEQ analyzed alternatives in the Final EIS. The Final EIS addresses substantive issues and concerns raised at the public meeting and in public comment. All new information and analysis supplied during the comment period were used to prepare the Final EIS and response to comments. 

To view the Final EIS, please visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/public/mepa

DEQ will make its final decision and provide its rationale in ​the Record of Decision and the Written Finding. The Written Finding is a public notice that identifies DEQ’s decision, its reasons for the decision and any special conditions surrounding the decision or its implementation. Pursuant to the Administrative Rules of Montana, DEQ may issue its Written Findings no less than 15 days after publication of the Final EIS.

Tags: Press Release and Coal