Feds Review U.S. Coal Program, Reforms Needed to Account for Coal’s Environmental Impacts

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 11, 2016) – The following statement is from Robert Dreher, senior vice president for conservation programs at Defenders of Wildlife, regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s review of the nation’s federal coal program:

 

“America’s reliance on coal has come at a staggering cost to our wildlife, our lands and our climate. The Bureau of Land Management’s assessment recognizing the need to modernize our federal coal program to account for coal’s true cost is an important step towards protecting our natural heritage.

 

“Coal combustion produces mercury and other toxic pollution that poisons wildlife and is a primary cause of climate change, impacting species across the planet. Coal mining destroys habitat and chokes our rivers and streams with toxic waste. The Bureau’s programmatic review of the federal coal leasing program promises to be the first honest look by the government at the true societal cost of coal production on our nation’s waters, lands, wildlife and climate, and will examine how to incorporate those costs in the price of coal. This will be a litmus test for the Trump administration: will they allow an objective assessment to go forward, or will they bury this report to hide the dirty truth about coal from the American public?”

 

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org and follow us on Twitter @DefendersNews.