Tax Credit on Coal Mined in Reservations Proposed By Ryan Zinke

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke is proposing to make permanent a tax credit for coal mined from American Indian Reservations.

Zinke was scheduled to announce his proposal Thursday in Billings during an appearance with representatives of the Crow Tribe and the coal industry.

The tax credit is worth $2 for every ton of coal mined.

Westmoreland Energy's Absaloka mine on the Crow Tribe's southeastern Montana Reservation produced 6.5 million tons of coal last year.

Cloud Peak Energy is proposing to build another mine on the reservation that would produce up to 10 million tons of coal annually.

The tax break temporarily expired in 2013. Montana's U.S. senators, Republican Steve Daines and Democrat Jon Tester, have supported prior efforts to extend the tax credit.