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Mining companies say a federal decision to stop leasing coal on public lands has bottled up Montana and Wyoming coal projects. The leasing suspension announced Friday by the Department of the Interior has put expansion plans in doubt at the Spring Creek Mine in Southeast Montana, and Antelope Mine in Wyoming, developer Cloud Peak Energy said. Cloud Peak was trying to determine whether the lease suspension would stop a 1,602-acre lease adjacent to Spring Creek Mine. The lease, involving 198.2 million tons of mineable coal, is beyond preliminary approval, but is still under environmental review, which might not be far

Congressional Republicans are slamming the Obama administration’s decision to halt new coal mining leases on federal land.  Administration officials said Friday they would hold off on new lease sales while overhauling the coal leasing program to account for climate change costs.  Republicans, who have badgered Obama for energy and environment policies they say constitute a “war on coal,” let loose on the decision Friday.  “There seems to be no limit to the number of job-crushing regulations, executive orders and insults [Interior Secretary Sally Jewell] and President Obama will throw at America’s middle class,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said in a statement. The Interior Department

Politicians in the House and Senate introduced a resolution Friday to remind Congress that religious liberty is a fundamental human right. The resolution affirms “the importance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right that is essential to a free society and is protected for all Americans by the text of the Constitution, and recognizing the 230th anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,” the resolution states. The resolution comes the day before Religious Freedom Day, which is Jan. 16. It was introduced by Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Republican Virginia Rep. Randy Forbes.  “America sets the standard across the

American Airlines will enter the Montana market this spring with non-stop daily, seasonal flights connecting Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport with Dallas-Fort Worth. Summer service begins June 2, ending in October. Winter service begins Dec. 15 and ends in April. Airport manager Brian Sprenger said Thursday’s announcement is the culmination of two decades worth of effort by officials from Gallatin County. “Obviously, it puts us on the map, particularly for the Dallas market,” Sprenger said. The direct flights open up new opportunities for leisure travelers interested in visiting southwest Montana, he said. Gallatin County organizations have pledged $1.3 million in revenue

Montana’s delegates have voted for a bipartisan bill which would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the United States rule. Congressman Ryan Zinke is calling WOTUS an “unconstitutional abuse of executive power.” Although not delving into specific flaws, Zinke fears that WOTUS will harm the economy by negatively impacting farmers, ranchers and builders in the Big Sky state. Senator Steve Daines addressed more specific concerns on WOTUS in November 2015. He cited the hefty bill that comes with the Act, an estimated $158 million and $465 million a year in indirect costs. For farmers, he says, WOTUS could results in fees for assessments and