The miner said rights to its Lodgepole, Sage Creek and Cabin Creek coal properties were injuriously taken and expropriated under the government’s Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act.
In 2010, the act helped establish the Mineral and Coal Land Reserve on all lands within the Flathead River Watershed Area.
Cline is seeking compensation for the loss of the value of the licences and applications for licences at the properties.
The miner says the value of these properties is estimated to exceed $C500 million based on net present value extended over the expected mine life of projects in the licences.
Cline has metallurgical coal property interests in British Columbia and Colorado.
Last week the company announced a major expansion of its New Elk mine in Colorado which now contains a resource of 618.9 million tons of measured and indicated coal.
