washington obama administration first major review country coal program three decades friday order pause issue coal-mining lease federal land part new executive action fight climate change halt could last three years u.s. interior secretary sally jewell tell reporters officials determine protect taxpayers stake coal sales public land burn coal could worsen climate change obligation current future generations ensure federal coal program deliver fair return american taxpayers take account impact climate change jewell say conference call federal land account 40 percent u.s. coal production lease public land western state primarily wyoming along colorado new mexico utah review administration late move combat climate change use executive authority rather wait congressional action come tough time industry since 2012 50 coal company file bankruptcy face competition cheap natural gas clean-air regulations raise cost burn fossil fuel national mine association president hal quinn say development coal project federal land already take 10 years friday announcement add red tape coal supply cut today action source lowest-cost reliable electricity keep america light people work say republican lawmakers quick criticize reform effort accuse administration ravage coal country congress continue fight back president ruthless pursuit destroy people low-cost energy source order cement climate legacy say u.s. house speaker paul ryan president barack obama annual state union address tuesday hint move say would change way manage oil coal resources good reflect cost impose taxpayers planet environmental group press white house years freeze fossil fuel lease argue allow coal development public land undermine president climate agenda environmental activists say coal reform program good first step administration extend review oil natural gas meet goal slash greenhouse gas emissions good-faith effort meet international climate target necessitate vast majority remain coal oil natural gas federal land must stay grind say elijah zarlin director climate campaign activist group credo jewell say review examine concern flag government accountability office interior department inspector general well members congress public add interior department also adopt measure boost transparency federal coal lease measure include public database show carbon emit fossil fuel develop public land post online pending request lease coal reduce government royalties well capture methane emissions mine jewell say pause apply exist coal production government allow mine metallurgical coal use make steel well emergency lease reserve need power generation plenty coal jewell say add reserve already lease enough sustain current level production federal land 20 years u.s. halt new coal lease federal land first review decades