A federal judge has blocked efforts by a Navajo Nation coal mine to expand operations within its permitted area in northwestern New Mexico.
The Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC. is seeking an emergency stay on the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge John Kane in Colorado. The company says the ruling will not impact supply to the Four Corners Power Plant but jeopardizes its long-term sustainability.
Kane sent a request for a permit expansion back to the federal Office of Surface Mining this week, saying the agency must consider the impacts of burning the coal from the Navajo Mine.
OSM spokesman Christopher Holmes declined to comment on Kane's ruling.
Environmentalist sued the agency in 2012, challenging its claims that the mine isn't harming the environment or people's health.
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