{"id":2675727,"date":"2026-10-04T16:31:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T20:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-threatens-its-largest-coal-mine-over-emissions-environmental-groups-add-pressure\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T16:39:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T20:39:50","slug":"colorado-threatens-its-largest-coal-mine-over-emissions-environmental-groups-add-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-threatens-its-largest-coal-mine-over-emissions-environmental-groups-add-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Threatens Its Largest Coal Mine Over Emissions, Environmental Groups Add Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcolorado-threatens-its-largest-coal-mine-over-emissions-environmental-groups-add-pressure%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2675727&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Colorado regulators issued a warning to the West Elk coal mine in August, citing emissions nearly four times above permitted levels. Over the 12 months ending in May, the mine emitted 1,723 tons of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/epa-emergency-waiver-lifts-restrictions-in-ethanol-gasoline-in-desperate-attempt-to-lower-prices\/\" title=\"EPA Emergency Waiver Lifts Restrictions in Ethanol Gasoline in Desperate Attempt to Lower Prices\">volatile organic compounds<\/a>, far exceeding the 465-ton limit, raising concerns about air pollution and environmental impact. Environmental groups, led by the Center for Biological Diversity, are urging the state to enforce stricter controls and require the installation of advanced emissions reduction technology.The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division is still investigating and has not set a timeline for enforcement, but has taken measures such as restricting access near ventilation shafts and assessing risks. The mine, owned by Core Natural Resources and operated by Mountain Coal Co., has seen emissions triple from January to May and continues operations amid broader political debates over coal energy policies. Historically, the mine has faced legal issues and delays in permit approvals, with recent permits issued in August 2023 and subsequent findings by the EPA indicating insufficient monitoring. The mine relies on venting methane and older sections release gas through surface wells, contributing to its methane emissions and environmental footprint.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Colorado regulators warned the West Elk coal mine in August that it could face sanctions after its air pollution climbed to nearly four times the level its permit allows.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The mine\u2019s emissions of volatile organic compounds, pollutants that contribute to smog, reached 1,723 tons over the 12 months ending in May, far above the 465-ton limit in its air permit, according to a state compliance advisory the Colorado Sun first <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/coloradosun.com\/2026\/09\/28\/colorado-coal-mine-methane-links-violations\/\">reported<\/a> Monday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Environmental groups led by the Center for Biological Diversity \u2014 which calls West Elk Colorado\u2019s largest coal mine \u2014 urged the state Thursday to go beyond fines and order the company to install the best available technology to control its emissions, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cThis is the single largest industrial source of methane in Colorado,\u201d Jeremy Nichols of the Center for Biological Diversity told the Colorado Sun. \u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen next? Are we looking at 2,000 tons, 5,000 tons?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division does not have a timeline for finishing its investigation, and state law lets it pursue compliance orders, penalties and permit-related actions, spokeswoman Kate Malloy said in a statement to the DCNF.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The mine has told regulators it restricted public access near its main ventilation shaft, Malloy added. The division has also asked the company to evaluate what risk its elevated emissions pose to people and air quality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cOur full investigation could identify additional alleged violations and result in an additional compliance advisory,\u201d Malloy noted. \u201cWe are committed to ensuring that Colorado\u2019s air is protected, and that the state enforces the Clean Air Act to its fullest extent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Core Natural Resources, which owns the mine, the Colorado Mining Association and the Center for Biological Diversity did not respond to the DCNF\u2019s requests for comment. The office of Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis did not immediately provide a comment on the record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The mine\u2019s rolling 12-month emissions more than tripled from 535 tons in January, according to the advisory as described by the outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">West Elk, located in Somerset in Gunnison County, is operated by Mountain Coal Co., which is now part of Pennsylvania-based Core Natural Resources, the Colorado Sun noted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Environmental groups <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biologicaldiversity.org\/w\/news\/press-releases\/lawsuit-aims-to-protect-western-colorados-air-from-arch-coals-west-elk-mine-2022-07-26\/\">sued<\/a> the Polis administration in 2022 over its delay in issuing the mine an air permit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">A judge <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/biologicaldiversity.org\/w\/news\/press-releases\/colorado-judge-rules-polis-administration-broke-air-quality-law-over-west-elk-coal-mine-permit-2022-12-14\/\">ruled<\/a> in December 2022 that the administration broke state law by missing the deadline to act on the permit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The state issued the permit in August 2023, and the Environmental Protection Agency <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/biologicaldiversity.org\/w\/news\/press-releases\/epa-rejects-air-pollution-permit-for-colorados-largest-coal-mine-2024-05-30\/\">found<\/a> in May 2024 that it failed to require adequate monitoring of the mine\u2019s emissions, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The mine continues to operate as the Trump administration orders coal-fired power plants to stay open, the Colorado Sun noted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">West Elk must vent methane to protect its miners, and older sections of the mine release gas through wells drilled from the surface, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s safe to say they\u2019ve gotten the best coal over the years. They\u2019re now going after less than best coal, and that\u2019s probably influencing their methane emissions,\u201d Nichols told the Colorado Sun.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">West Elk released 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, the coalition said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-membership-plummets-to-record-low\/\" title=\"Union Membership Plummets to Record Low\">legitimate news publisher<\/a> that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. 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The mine emitted 1,723 tons of volatile organic compounds over a year-well above the 465-ton limit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2675728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_3649.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[86692,6024,62800,51394,86693],"class_list":["post-2675727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-coal-mine","tag-colorado","tag-emissions-regulations","tag-environmental-groups","tag-environmental-pressure"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_3649.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2675727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2675727"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2675727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2675731,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2675727\/revisions\/2675731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2675728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2675727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2675727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2675727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}