US approves Warrior Met Coal’s mining plans in Alabama

The US Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has announced the record of decision for the final environmental impact statement and approval of federal mining plans for Mine No. 4 and Blue Creek Mine No. 1, in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.   

The approved mining plans authorize the recovery of more than 53 million tons of federal metallurgical coal.  Metallurgical (Met) coal is used to produce coke, an essential fuel for producing high-grade steel used in a wide range of applications, including manufacturing, automotive, and construction. Met coal is designated a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020.      

Last year, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to revive the country’s shrinking coal industry, rolling back key restrictions despite the fuel’s major role in climate change and pollution.  

Trump directed federal agencies to lift Obama-era limits on coal mining, leasing, and exports. He instructed the Interior Department to locate coal deposits on federal lands, remove barriers to mining, and fast-track leasing processes. 

The mining plans advance Executive Order 14241, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, and Executive Order 14261, Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry. 

“Coal recovered from the approval of these mining plans will go to America’s allies for steelmaking,” Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement director Lanny E. Erdos said in a news release. “This will strengthen our national security by ensuring stable supply chains for critical defense materials and reduces reliance on rivals like China.”  

Mine No. 4 and Blue Creek Mine No. 1 are operated by Warrior Met Coal, Inc. At Mine No. 4, Warrior Met is expected to extract about 16.9 million tons of federal metallurgical coal, extending the life of the mine by seven years to 2046, while employing approximately 425 employees annually.

At Blue Creek Mine No. 1, Warrior Met is expected to extract about 36.3 million tons of federal metallurgical coal, extending the life of the mine by 14 years to 2067, while employing approximately 500 employees annually.

Coal recovery from these mines is anticipated to generate more than $400 million in average annual economic output.  

OSM adopted an EIS prepared by BLM to analyze the environmental impacts associated with leasing the federal coal tracts and the reasonably foreseeable development of those leases. OSM participated in the preparation of the EIS as a cooperating agency and has independently. 

The OSM reviewed the analysis and supporting documentation and determined the EIS adequately addresses the potential environmental effects of the proposed mining plans and satisfies its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act, it said.