The BLM Miles City field office is seeking public comments on the lease modification and will hold a public meeting mid-May.

A statement from the BLM said the company wanted to extend an existing lease and add 500 acres to two coal leases at the mine.

“The 500 acres are adjacent to the current Decker Mine permit boundary,” the statement said.

“The permit covers about 7255 acres the company controls west of State Highway 314, roughly 20 miles northeast of Sheridan, Wyoming.”

Decker Coal operates the Decker coal mine complex, which uses surface mining to extract the coal along with concurrent reclamation activities.

Mining began at West Decker in August 1972.

Ambre Energy’s US arm, Ambre Energy North America, owns a 50% interest in Decker Coal, with operating responsibilities for the Decker mine.

Cloud Peak Energy holds the remaining 50% interest but will finalise a December 2012 sale of that interest to Ambre Energy this quarter, giving Ambre 100% ownership of the mine.

The mine has produced more than 9 million tons per annum previously but is currently producing at 3Mtpa.