#MTGov Daily Rundown: 4-Year Anniversary of Coal Protests Highlights Bullock's Vote Against Montana Jobs

This week marks the 4 year anniversary of anti-coal protests at the state capitol against the State Land Board's decision to lease the Otter Creek coal tracts to Arch Coal. The environmental extremists protesters supported efforts by then Attorney General Steve Bullock and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau who opposed the lease.

"The weeklong coal protest that wraps up today at the Capitol doesn’t seem to be having much impact on the state officials in charge of leasing the state’s resources for development. The protesters generally oppose coal development, but specifically want the Land Board to reject development of the massive Otter Creek coal tracts despised by environmentalists, who argue its use will irrevocably harm the environment.” -Missoulian, 8/19/2012

Bullock and Juneau were the only two land board members to oppose the lease.  

"Four current Land Board members - including two who opposed the lease deal with Arch - are running for election. The list is topped by Attorney General Steve Bullock, who is running to replace Schweitzer as governor. The Democrat voted no on the current lease deal with Arch, arguing it was not lucrative enough for the state." -Missoulian, 8/19/2012

“Attorney General Steve Bullock and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau voted against the lease.” -Billings Gazette, 3/18/2010

Despite the fact that the state took $86 million from Arch Coal for the lease, Bullock ultimately got his wish as a permit was never issued once he became governor, and Arch abandoned the project after entering bankruptcy.

"Arch Coal announced Thursday it was suspending its efforts to secure a mining permit for the Otter Creek mine in southeast Montana.

In a press release, the St. Louis-based company said it was abandoning efforts to mine the area "due to capital constraints, near-term weakness in coal markets and an extended and uncertain permitting outlook." -MTN News, 3/10/2016


The Otter Creek Coal Mine promised to be a major economic boon to Southeast Montana, creating 4,400 good paying jobs, and increase state tax revenue by $91 million a year. Stats from the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

• 2,648 jobs would be created during the peak year of the construction phase as the mine facilities and the railroad are built, with most new jobs created in eastern Montana; 
• The impacts on income received by Montana households would be similarly substantial, with  $103.5 million of new personal income and $87.7 million in after-tax income occuring during the peak construction year statewide. 
• In eastern Montana, total household earnings would increase more than 8 percent;  As a result of the continuing operations of the mine, 1,740 new permanent, yearround jobs would be created in the Montana economy, increasing household income by $125.4 million per year;  Job increases would occur across a wide spectrum of industries, and, largely due to rail operations, in most regions of the state; 
• Overall state population would be almost 2,850 higher and school-aged population more than 560 higher due to the operations of the mine. 
• Mine operations would increase state and local tax revenue by more than $91 million per year due to both coal-specific taxes as well as growth in the overall base for Montana’s other taxes.