Bernie Sanders best choice to keep coal in the ground

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obama administration announced today it will conduct a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to examine the impacts that the federal coal leasing program has on the environment, including climate change. A comprehensive environmental review of the federal coal leasing program has not happened since 1979. This review will likely take many months and much of it will be conducted under the next administration.

Friends of the Earth Action Vice President of Programs Michelle Chan offered the following response to the announcement:

Friends of the Earth Action thanks the Obama administration for the historic decision to assess the climate impacts of the federal coal leasing program through a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and to, in the interim, halt all new coal leasing on public lands. Because this crucial analysis will almost certainly be finalized under the next administration, today’s announcement highlights how important the results of the next presidential election are for our climate.

The only candidate who has pledged to keep fossil fuels in the ground, end polluter welfare, and ensure a just transition for workers in the fossil fuel industry is Senator Bernie Sanders. Our country is taking crucial steps to keep dirty fossil fuels in the ground, and Friends of the Earth Action has proudly endorsed Bernie Sanders as the best leader to move us forward.

Expert contact: Michelle Chan, (510) 900-3141, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]