Montana board votes 4-1 to lease coal tracts

The state Land Board Monday voted 4-1 to lease 572 million tons of state-owned coal in southeastern Montana's Otter Creek Valley - but set a relatively high minimum price to buy the rights to develop the tracts.

The decision, which came after months and years of study, appraisals and political lobbying by all sides of the contentious issue, could be the first step toward developing a massive coal mine in the rural valley about 150 miles east of Billings. Read the full story from The Missoulian.