Post by pavel on Jan 15, 2016 22:44:17 GMT -6
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is imposing a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands, arguing that the $1 billion-a-year program must be modernized to ensure a fair financial return to taxpayers and address climate change.
The program has remained largely unchanged for more than 30 years and requires a comprehensive review, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Friday in announcing the halt. The move drew praise from environmental groups and Democrats, but condemnation from Republicans who called it another volley in what they assert is a "war on coal" being waged by President Barack Obama.
"It is abundantly clear that times are different than they were 30 years ago, and the time for review (of the coal leasing program) is now," Jewell told reporters in a conference call.
She called the moratorium, effective immediately and expected to last through the remainder of Obama's final year in office, a "prudent step to hit pause."
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/25a34e124652417b8e916e3236190df7/obama-administration-will-announce-halt-new-coal-leases
The program has remained largely unchanged for more than 30 years and requires a comprehensive review, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Friday in announcing the halt. The move drew praise from environmental groups and Democrats, but condemnation from Republicans who called it another volley in what they assert is a "war on coal" being waged by President Barack Obama.
"It is abundantly clear that times are different than they were 30 years ago, and the time for review (of the coal leasing program) is now," Jewell told reporters in a conference call.
She called the moratorium, effective immediately and expected to last through the remainder of Obama's final year in office, a "prudent step to hit pause."
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/25a34e124652417b8e916e3236190df7/obama-administration-will-announce-halt-new-coal-leases