Federal judge revives Obama-era ban on coal sales from federal lands
A federal judge has reinstated a moratorium on coal leasing from federal lands that was imposed under former President Barack Obama and then scuttled under former President Donald Trump.
Friday’s ruling from US District Judge Brian Morris requires government officials to complete a new environmental review before they can resume coal sales from federal lands.
Few leases have been sold in recent years as coal demand shrank drastically. But the industry’s opponents had urged Morris to revive the Obama-era moratorium to ensure it can’t make a comeback as wildfires, drought, rising sea levels and other effects of climate change worsen.
