Steve Daines on Montana Mine Closures and Federal Land Ownership Issues

The Bull Mountains Coal Mine Crisis

• coal mine near Roundup, Montana, is at risk of closure due to checkerboard federal ownership of land and running out of permanent coal.
• 💰 This mine is vital to Montana's energy economy, employing 250 people with high-paying jobs and generating over $90 million annually in taxes and revenues.
• 📉 The mine recently laid off dozens of workers because they ran out of permitted coal, highlighting the precarious situation.

Senate Bill 362: A Short-Term Solution

• 📜 Senator Daines introduced Senate Bill 362 as a targeted, short-term fix to allow the mining of specific federal minerals.
• ✅ The bill aims to provide enough time to find a longer-term solution, allowing the mine to continue mining the same materials under its existing permit.
• 🤝 This identical bill passed the committee with bipartisan support in the last Congress, and Daines hopes for its swift passage again.

Broader Impact on Montana's Mining Industry

• ⚠️ The Bull Mountains mine situation is not isolated; the Stillwater mine, the US's only platinum and palladium mine, recently laid off 700 workers.
• ⚡ Losing these mining jobs has a significant negative impact on Montana's economy and its communities.

The Importance of Coal and Baseload Power

• 📊 Coal-fired plants provide 45% of Montana's in-state electricity generation, supplying a low-cost, reliable, and secure source of energy.
• 📈 The mining industry is crucial for building jobs, supporting local communities, national security, and generating substantial tax revenues.
• 💡 In Utah, mining jobs pay significantly more than the state average, and coal mining companies are often the largest private employers in coal-producing counties.
• 🔌 Technology leaders are currently concerned about a shortage of baseload power, which is identified as a constraint for future innovation and economic growth.

Call to Action and Long-Term Solutions

• ⏳ Senate Bill 362 is a crucial short-term fix to prevent federal inaction from leaving communities behind.
• 🌍 It allows time for the finalization of new permits and for Congress to pass legislation like the Crow Revenue Act, ensuring long-term economic certainty for affected communities and the Crow Nation.