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| Dear Friend, |
| At the end of 2023, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality approved the expansion of one of the most corrupt mines in the country, Signal Peak’s Bull Mountains coal mine. |
| Signal Peak has been involved in so many scandals that it earned a New York Times exposé and was even referred to as a “den of thievery” by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Yet when the company requested a 435-acre expansion of the mine, the state approved their plans. Earthjustice is suing to stop the expansion of this destructive mine — and today, we’re asking everyone who can to join our fight. |
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| We’ve been taking on cases against Bull Mountains coal mine for more than a decade. Most recently, we won a case halting mining until an environmental impact statement is complete. Our legal work is incredibly effective, but it takes time and resources. |
| That’s why I’m reaching out to you, friend. The fact of the matter is, we need reliable and ongoing support each month to continue the fights that will shape our planet’s future. If you can start a monthly gift before the end of January, your next 12 months of support will be matched $1:$1, doubling your impact in 2024. |
| The Bull Mountains coal mine has been polluting and destroying neighboring waters for years. |
| The company pled guilty and was fined $1 million for criminal violations of health and safety laws, including illegally dumping toxic mine waste into an aquifer that was intended to provide reclamation water. |
| Shockingly, dumping toxic slurry waste is just a small part of the corporation’s nefarious activities. An excerpt from the aforementioned New York Times article reads: |
| “Embezzlement and fake kidnapping were part of the unraveling of a coal company called Signal Peak Energy that also involved bribery, cocaine trafficking, firearms violations, worker safety and environmental infringements, a network of shell companies, a modern-day castle, an amputated finger and past links to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.” |
| As the coal industry struggles nationwide and established firms go bankrupt, disreputable outfits are snapping up mines with schemes to scrape any remaining profit from the land. This means we must be even more vigilant in defending our planet from these destructive industries. |
| Friend, we hope that you’ll partner with us today to fund this court case and so many others that can protect our land, our water, and the wild places we hold dear. Give today and your monthly support will be matched $1:$1 for the rest of 2024. |
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In Partnership,
Shiloh Hernandez
Senior Attorney, Earthjustice
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