December 29, 2025 - The Prairie Rivers Network and Sierra Club Illinois are launching a new legal challenge to block federal approval for expanded coal mining in Illinois.

On Thursday, the groups sued the Tennessee Valley Authority for authorizing the Sugar Camp Mine to unearth more than 20,000 acres of TVA-owned coal, under the federally owned public power provider’s lease agreement with the mine operator.

TVA would also sell all of the mining rights for its coal reserves in Franklin, Hamilton and Jefferson counties to a private company, according to the environmental groups.

They alleged that the decision was a misreading of the terms of the lease, and violated procedural law.