ST. LOUIS – Arch Coal Inc., has named William M. “Mike” Rowlands the director of Arch’s Otter Creek operations in Montana.
Rowlands will be responsible for guiding the permitting process and will act as the liaison between the company and government agencies, surrounding communities and railroads.
Rowlands has 32 years of experience with Arch and most recently served as the manager of engineering and environmental affairs at Arch’s Thunder Basin Coal Co. in Wyoming.
The state Land Board voted in March to lease 572 million tons of coal reserves near the Wyoming border to Arch Coal for $86 million and future royalties. Four environmental groups filed lawsuits against the Land Board last week, arguing that it did not adequately consider the environmental consequences of the mine or of burning the coal.