"Climate Change: Obama Administration Halts New Coal-Mining Leases On Public Land", 16 Jan 2016

In a move that is likely to further impact coal miners in the country, the U.S. government announced…it would temporarily halt issuing permits for new coal mines on public land. The moratorium…will stay in place until officials examine whether fees charged to mining companies provide a fair return to taxpayers and reflect coal’s impact on the environment…Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said, in a statement…“We haven’t undertaken a comprehensive review of the program in more than 30 years, and we have an obligation to current and future generations to ensure the federal coal program delivers a fair return to American taxpayers and takes into account its impacts on climate change.” However, the moratorium does not apply to existing coal production activities…Burning of coal and other fossil fuels for electricity production accounts for 31 percent of domestic greenhouse gas emissions, making it the single-largest factor contributing to anthropogenic climate change…