Final EIS clears path for West Antelope III PRB lease

The Bureau of Land Management has issued its final Environmental Impact Study, or EIS, for the West Antelope III Powder River Basin mine tract. The EIS is a final step in the lease process that enables the site to be auctioned off. The 440-million-ton federal coal tract in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin mining district could be undervalued, if industry insiders are to be believed. However, that has not stopped the Navajo Transitional Energy Company from putting forth an application for the lease, which could strengthen the NTEC’s operations in the region and establish it as a major energy player in the region.

The Bureau of Land Management has cleared the sale of the West Antelope lease

The current Antelope Mine operator, the Navajo Transitional Energy Company, has stated that it would love the opportunity to add more tonnage to its legally mineable coal reserve, according to Technical Services Manager Blake Jones. However, the West Antelope Mine in Wyoming might become a hot commodity that attracts the interest of several bidders.

The BLM issued notice of the completion of its EIS, which has paved the way forward for the site to be auctioned off in the near future. Another major player in the Powder River Basin region, and possible bidder, CORE Natural Resources, is wary of the lease.

“Even though the [Trump] administration is working hard to improve the market, it will take some time to dig out of the current hole. For that reason, the fair-market value of coal in the Powder River Basin will remain soft for the next number of years.” – CORE’s Thunder Basin Coal Co. Manager of Environmental Affairs Jamie Olson

“In today’s electric power demand market and economy, and in consideration of the current and future national power generation need alone, this leasing action should move forward through the [environmental impact statement] and Record of Decision process, based on a fair-market value assessment.”  – Wyoming Energy Authority’s Director of Fossil Fuel Development Kyle Wendtland

Wyoming officials welcome the sale of the West Antelope tract in Campbell and Converse counties

Despite the EIS being completed by the BLM, some insiders are still cautioning careful consideration. The 3,500 acres contain roughly 440 million tons of federal coal, which would most certainly make a difference to the local economy and the energy sector in the United States as a whole.

Officials in Wyoming have welcomed the accelerated lease process being championed by the Trump administration’s executive orders, “Unleashing American Energy” and “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry”.

“The other part of the fair-market value is the job component. You’re keeping companies operating, you’re keeping the resource under development, and you keep people employed, and that’s part of the fair return.” – Wyoming Mining Association Executive Director Travis Deti

The Department of the Interior has taken significant steps to fast-track the lease process for several sites across the US, which is a result of the new directive from the current administration.

The Trump administration is providing the energy sector with a new lease on life

The Trump Presidency has seen nothing but scandal after scandal. However, all the political noise aside, the current administration has taken several key steps on the path towards delivering energy independence to the American people. President Trump’s Interior Secretary pick, Doug Burgum, is the perfect evidence to show the Trump administration’s view on the energy sector. The EIS for the West Antelope III is complete, and the BLM states that the site poses no significant threat to the local wildlife and environment, no more than any other site does. Thanks to the new approach to the energy sector, America is well on its way to energy independence.