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Montana: Arch Coal Suspends Plans for Major Mine, After Years of Resistance

HeadlineMar 11, 2016

And in Montana, Arch Coal has suspended its application for a major new coal mine in the Powder River Basin, following years of resistance from the Northern Cheyenne Nation and local ranchers. The move comes two months after Arch Coal declared bankruptcy amid the decline of the U.S. coal industry at large. The construction of Otter Creek mine, which would have extracted up to 20 million tons of coal, was delayed by years of legal and political opposition, which was featured in Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis’ film “This Changes Everything.” Here is a clip from the film of Cheyenne environmental organizer Vanessa Braided Hair speaking at a hearing against the mine.

Vanessa Braided Hair: “My name is Vanessa Braided Hair. I requested this informal conference on behalf of the Northern Cheyenne homesteaders. Last night, over 200 Cheyennes, Three Affiliated Tribes, the Oglala Lakota Nation, Yakama Nation gathered in Lame Deer to oppose any development of the Otter Creek and Tongue River Valley. … If you don’t want the Cheyennes to take over public meetings, then listen to us. If you don’t want anger, then hear us.”

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