The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has granted approval to Hurricane Creek Mining to commence coal mining operations on Bryson Mountain in Claiborne County, Tennessee.

The approval enables the project to produce up to 1.8 million tonnes (mt) of coal up to 2034.

The coal extracted from Bryson Mountain will bolster critical industries such as steelmaking and power generation.

Hurricane Creek Mining has been authorised to employ surface mining techniques such as auger, highwall and contour methods, across 635 acres.

Land and minerals management acting assistant secretary Adam Suess stated: “This project reflects a broader shift, one where American resources are being put to work for American strength.

“We’re not just issuing permits — we’re supporting communities, securing supply chains for critical industries and making sure the US stays competitive in a changing global energy landscape.”

The permit was fast-tracked through an expedited environmental review process, in line with procedures established to accelerate energy project evaluations under the national energy emergency declared by President Trump.

This move also aligns with Executive Order 14261, titled Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and reflecting the government's commitment to fostering reliable coal production and expanding the nation's energy resources.

The approval also complements the legislative support for the coal sector provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes measures such as reduced royalty rates for federal coal mining and expanded federal coal leasing opportunities.

The DOI has also approved a significant expansion of the Bull Mountains coal mine in Montana which could extend the mine's lifespan by up to nine years.

This approval allows Signal Peak Energy to extract an additional 22.8mt of federal coal and 34.5mt of non-federal coal.