AP 9-29, 2016
A state regulatory board is allowing Wyoming’s first major coal mine in decades to proceed despite the objections of another coal company in the same area.
The Wyoming Environmental Quality Council voted Wednesday to approve an order in lieu of consent for the Brook Mine north of Sheridan. Lexington, Kentucky-based Ramaco’s relatively small mine bucks the trend of recent coal mine closures, especially in Appalachia.
Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins says digging could begin next year. He says Ramaco resolved its differences with a ranch that owns part of the mine site Tuesday.
Ramaco sought the council order amid objections from the ranchers and Big Horn Coal, which has said the Brook Mine could interfere with its own mining. Big Horn Coal officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
