Statement by EDF President Fred Krupp on the Interior Department Coal Leasing Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“The decision by the Interior Department to suspend new coal leasing on federal lands is a responsible step for our environment and for taxpayers. We must begin taking into account the full cost of the pollution created when we extract and burn coal. The resources on federal lands belong to the American people, and must be managed in the best long term interest of the nation. The existing coal leasing program has amounted to an unfair federal subsidy for coal — not only cheating taxpayers, but putting a huge burden on our children’s generation, who will have to deal with the consequences of our pollution.”

-EDF President Fred Krupp