Wilderness group challenging approval of proposed Emery coal mine

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has launched a legal challenge of the federal government's approval of a mining plan for the proposed Lila Canyon coal mine, Emery County.

The U.S. District Court suit, filed Tuesday afternoon, says the decision of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement not to prepare a new decision document relied on state approval of a mining plan. But the state approval was based on an overturned permit application, it adds.

Located near the western section of the Book Cliffs, between Price and Green River, the mine would require road and surface grading and construction that could begin soon, the suit says.

"These damaging activities threaten the integrity of the wilderness quality lands and other public resources within the mine permit area," the suit says.