Powder River Basin

Cloud Peak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 10.

Cloud Peak filed for bankruptcy itself in May but its Wyoming mines and its Spring Creek mine in Montana have remained open.

In its list of the 30 largest unsecured claims, Blackjewel says it owes over $60 million in royalties to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The companies were set to hold a conference call to discuss details Wednesday morning.

Researchers plan to collect 3D seismic data later this year.

Government officials had argued unsuccessfully that climate change could be addressed at individual mines rather than across the region.

Tighter pollution regulations are also causing utilities to stop burning coal to make electricity.

Environmentalists praised the ruling but Morris denied their request to halt mining.