mining

The withdrawal has no bearing on private land, where both companies have plans.

Wyoming's new regulations would factor in a company's credit rating in allowing a company to self-bond.

Officials have yet to complete work including basic risk analyses on about 80 percent of abandoned mining sites on federal lands.

Cloud Peak owns the Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines in Wyoming and the Spring Creek mine in Montana.

The panel is supposed to find ways to remove barriers to drilling and mining while making sure taxpayers aren't shortchanged by energy companies.

Tax revenue was also up in September, up nearly 15 percent over collections in August.

Most of the land is within the Custer Gallatin National Forest, but the underground minerals are overseen by the Interior Department.

Davis says he expects Zinke to sign a 20-year mineral withdrawal for lands in the Paradise Valley and Gardiner Basin.

An identical bill sponsored by Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte is pending in the House.

The report also said stronger machinery and faster coal-loading is kicking up more dust.