July 18, 2018 - The Bureau of Land Management has issued a favorable Environmental Impact Statement for expanded coal mining in southern Utah, Kallanish Energy reports.

The move on the Alton Coal Tract was greeted with enthusiasm by local officials eager to see economic development, and was roundly criticized by environmentalists who say the mining would threaten nearby Bryce Canyon National Park.

A final decision by the BLM is expected around August 20.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected on July 20 to issue a notice of availability.

The report is available here.

Alton Coal is seeking to lease 3,581 acres, most of which are federally owned lands, near Alton, Utah. About 1,276 acres are owned by eight private landowners.

The land to be leased contains 44.9 million tons of recoverable coal, the BLM said.

It said its analysis favors a preferred alternative that would allow mining for 30.8 million tons.

The land to be leased in near the company’s existing Coal Hollow Mine in Kane County, Utah. The lease would allow the company to mine 2 million tons a year. At present, the company mines about 250,000 tons a year.

Eco-groups have argued expanded strip mining would impact the national park, located eight miles from the mining site and tourism in southern Utah.

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