As a former tourism promoter for the state of Utah, I had the enviable job of presenting Utah's world-class landscapes to international journalists. One destination that left us with indelible memories was the West Tavaputs Plateau and Book Cliffs area overlooking Desolation Canyon and the Green River.
A proposed coal mine expansion on the western slope of the Book Cliffs is totally incompatible with environmental stewardship. The proposal has now gone out for public comment. Here’s mine.
Many Americans like me are increasingly wary of coal consumption and its proven deleterious effect on the environment. Mining more coal is literally akin to adding fuel to the fire. The proposal by Utah American Energy, a subsidiary of Murray Energy, the nation’s largest (and now bankrupt) coal company to expand the Lila Canyon mine into 1,272 acres of additional public land is appalling, and it comes at a time when coal-burning power plants are being decommissioned worldwide.
The Trump administration’s vile assault on public land protections and environmental sustainability in Utah has accelerated the planet’s spiral into climate chaos. It’s past time we stop propping up industries that are killing us, just because “It’s our heritage.”
Ken Kraus, Salt Lake City