The sign for Rosebud coal mines, owned by Westmoreland (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

The federal government this week announced the approval of a massive expansion for the Westmoreland Rosebud Mine in southeast Montana, which supplies coal to Colstrip, the state’s largest coal-fired power plant.

Under the modified mining plan approved by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement on Monday, Westmoreland will be authorized to extract approximately 33.75 million tons of federal coal, and an additional 37 million tons of privately-owned coal, across more than 4,200 acres of surface land.

Westmoreland Rosebud Mining, LLC, which operates the mine, praised the approval as a longtime coming, as the first permit to mine in the expansion area was submitted to th

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