Colorado Coal Mines Getting Court-Ordered Environmental Study

DENVER (AP) — Federal regulators are moving ahead with a court-ordered environmental review of a Colorado coal mine's permit that could save the jobs of about 220 miners. However it's not clear if regulators will still challenge the court's overall ruling that that they consider the impacts of coal mining on climate change — a decision that could set a precedent that might endanger other mining projects.

The review was opened Thursday. Meanwhile, Colorado's senators and governor are pressing the Interior Department to protect the jobs at the Colowyo mine near Craig.

Earlier this month, Judge R. Brooke Jackson ordered a new review because he said regulators in 2007 didn't take a hard look at the mine's direct and indirect environmental impacts. He said they should include pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal.

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