Protect Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park From Destructive Strip Coal Mine

Environment, Petitions — By Lindsey Powers on February 9, 2012 7:16 am

Target: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management

Goal: To protect Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park and its local communities by preventing the expansion of a neighboring, environmentally destructive, strip coal mine.

It appears the federal government has sided with big coal companies, having issued an environmental study that will allow the expansion of a strip coal mine located a mere 10 miles southeast of Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. The mine in question, Coal Hollow Mine, has been in operation for less than a year, and already plans to increase its acreage five-fold, without any regard for neighboring lands and communities. The negative effects of strip coal mines are well known, being one of the most damaging methods of energy production in the world, and should not be favored over the environment.

Drafted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the environmental study completely ignores the damaging repercussions of mining operations, and instead proposes the additional leasing of more than 3,500 acres of federal mineral deposits. In fact, the study specifically acknowledges how the mine expansion would harm the region’s air quality and tourism industry, but believes a larger mine is necessary to bring employment opportunities and tax revenue to the area. The federal government is choosing money over community and environmental well-being. As a local shop owner Bobbie Bryant explains, “My family, like hundreds of southwest Utahans, depends on the tourism-related economy of Bryce Canyon National Park, and also the local hunting, fishing and many other outdoor opportunities of this spectacular region. If the BLM gives away our public lands to Big Coal, we risk losing our quality of life.”

The mine’s 24-hour operation is already a continuous attack on the region’s air and land quality, and if the expansion moves forward, the adverse effects will increase tenfold, clouding Bryce Canyon’s famously clear, starry skies and also threatening the prized mule deer of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. These damaging effects should be reason enough to prevent the expansion of Coal Hollow Mine, but the BLM continues to maintain a dismissive attitude, believing the environmental impacts are negligible and that the region’s resources can be restored after mining.

The jagged rock pillars, clear skies and quiet nights of Bryce Canyon National Park and the well-being of local families must be protected from mining destruction. By signing the petition below you will urge the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to retract its proposal to expand Coal Hollow Mine.

PETITION LETTER

Dear U.S. Bureau of Land Management,

Supporting the expansion of Utah’s Coal Hollow Mine clearly shows a bias towards Big Coal and a complete disregard and disrespect of our nation’s natural wonders. The famous clear skies and still nights of Bryce Canyon National Park already suffer from mining operations; the leasing of over 3,500 additional acres for coal mining can only end in devastating environmental impacts.

The well-being of the national park and neighboring communities must be the first priority. Families who have established businesses that thrive on recreational activities like fishing, hunting and even tourist driven outdoor amusements, are in danger of collapsing when the land becomes unsatisfactory due to mining operations.

Do not choose revenue from energy development over Mother Nature. The environmental study that promotes the expansion of Coal Hollow Mine must be retracted to protect Bryce Canyon National Park and its neighboring communities.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]