Foundation News

July 28 marked the last day of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) public comment period on its outdated federal coal leasing program. In January, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the Obama Administration will be putting an immediate suspension on all new coal leases on federal public lands and undertaking a review of the entire coal leasing program. 

The DOI held six public hearings across the country as a key first step in hearing from Americans what the administration should consider in its analysis of the coal leasing program through the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) process. Hundreds of people packed these public hearings, and almost a quarter of a million people submitted comments to demand reform of the broken federal program that is giving companies deals to mine coal on our public lands. The Sierra Club delivered more than 131,000 comments from its members and supporters to the DOI calling for an end to the coal leasing program and instead a focus on investing in a clean energy economy, stewarding public lands, and supporting an economic transition.

We heard from diverse groups – parents, city leaders, health officials, people of faith – and others concerned about the impact of fossil fuels on our air, water, and climate. Thank you for stepping up to make sure the DOI heard that Americans support reforming and ultimately ending the coal leasing program and a just transition for communities that may be affected by those changes. The entire PEIS process will take about three years to complete. The Sierra Club will stay involved to ensure the administration continues to steer the country toward a clean energy economy.