| Dear Friend, |
| It reads like something out of a crime novel: extreme corruption, cocaine trafficking, and even a fake kidnapping. But it’s not fiction, it’s the real-life saga of the Bull Mountains Mine in Montana. And now, under the guise of a national “energy emergency,” the Trump administration just authorized this mine to dig up an extra 50 million tons of coal – without public review or environmental analysis. |
| I’ve seen firsthand how coal mines like this one damage wildlife, water sources, and sustainable ranching. Thanks to your support, I get to do the job I love: taking coal mine operators and lawless administrations to court to protect the planet. Donate today and help me and my colleagues at Earthjustice stop illegal coal mining and fight back against the Trump administration. |
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| In 2023, we won a court order to halt coal mining at Bull Mountains Mine after we proved the harm it caused local ranchers and the environment outweighed the benefit of the mine’s continued coal exports. But now, the government has reversed course, sidestepping the legal process and threatening the fragile landscape of the Bull Mountains all over again. |
| Instead of protecting communities and the climate, the Trump administration is giving polluters a free pass. They’re ignoring the damage to ranchers, disappearing water sources, and wildlife already under threat – all while claiming it’s about a national “energy emergency.” In reality, nearly all the coal that would be mined will be exported overseas, mostly to Japan and South Korea. |
| As Melissa Hornbein, senior attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center, put it: |
| “The Trump administration will have a very difficult time in federal court explaining how expediting approval for expanding operations at a coal mine that exports 98% of its product falls under an extremely specific domestic energy emergency declaration.” |
| We’ve fought against these types of illegal actions before and we are determined to do it again. As we prepare we need your help: |
| Support from donors like you allows us to defend the ranchers, residents and wildlife that require clean water and stable ground to live – and do it free of charge. As our fiscal year ends on June 30, we’re asking for your support to prepare for the cases ahead, and offering a $2:$1 match when you donate today. Please, triple your impact and help us win fights like this one. |
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| Thank you for your partnership and your perseverance. |
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Sincerely,
Shiloh Hernandez
Earthjustice Senior Attorney
Northern Rockies Regional Office |
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