Daines Hosts Federal Coal Program Meeting in Billings

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today held a public meeting in Billings to ensure that the Department of Interior (DOI) hears the voices that will be most impacted by their review of the federal coal program.

Today, DOI held a scoping meeting in Seattle, Washington. Washington State contains only 0.26 percent of the nation’s recoverable coal reserves and produces zero. Montana has the nation’s largest estimated recoverable coal reserves.

“Montanans rely on coal for their livelihoods, so the ability to produce it must not be wiped away,” Daines stated. “It’s great to see so many Montanans come out and make their voices heard and ensure that we keep good-paying coal jobs in our state.”

The comments collected today will be submitted to the Bureau of Land Management and be incorporated in the scope of the programmatic review of the federal coal program.