Bennet Urges Interior Secretary to Help Save Colorado Mining Jobs

Press Release

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today urged Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to use any and all tools at her disposal to help save over 200 mining jobs in Moffat County, Colorado. A recent court ruling called into question the environmental assessment completed to approve Colowyo's mining plan in Moffat County. The ruling gave the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining (OSM) 120 days to correct the deficiencies in its analysis.

In a letter to Secretary Jewell, Bennet wrote, "The Colowyo Mine provides jobs to 220 people and the facility is a significant contributor to the local tax base in Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties. Given the importance of the jobs and economic development derived from this mine for rural Colorado, I hope you will take all appropriate actions to remedy this situation as soon as possible. If necessary, I encourage OSM to petition the court for an extension of the time period granted to complete the supplemental environmental review needed to bring OSM's analysis into line with the law."

Bennet is seeking resolution to save these jobs and the most effective way to do that is pushing the Interior Department to swiftly address the deficiencies in OSM's original assessment. In this case it is unlikely that OSM will appeal the decision and as precedent, Bennet's office works to avoid any interference with ongoing legal proceedings.

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