The Obama administration announced Friday that it will halt issuing new coal leases on federal lands — a blow to the coal industry, NBC News reported.
The administration says it is examining whether fees charged to mining companies provide a fair return to American taxpayers and reflect coal's impact on the environment.
The move stymies new coal production on federal lands as the administration weighs a programmatic overhaul. President Obama suggested that the administration might go in this direction during the State of the Union address this week.
