The Responsible Mining and Energy Workgroup focuses on efforts to protect coldwater fisheries from the various modes of energy production: coal and hard rock mining, oil and gas drilling, wind, solar and nuclear. The goals of this workgroup are:
1. Provide a set of useful tools former chapters and councils that find themselves confronted by an extraction or energy project that could have a negative impact on cold water resources.
2. Work with all stakeholders and interested parties to ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to avoid or mitigate the impacts that extraction and energy project may have on coldwater resources.
3. Act as a conduit between TU staff and grassroots membership to provide information and guidance on local and national extraction and every developments.
Join Our Virtual Meetings
We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8 pm ET. Email Jeff Arterburn for more information.
Committee Contacts
Chair: Jeff Arterburn, New Mexico
TU Staff Contacts: Ty Churchwell and Tasha Sorensen
Meets: The 3rd Wednesday of each month.
This is the message map provided by the NLC Responsible Mining and Energy Workgroup.
Energy Resources
Critical Minerals – A Hunting and Fishing Perspective (July 2025)
Mining Resouces
Good Sam Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Pilot Program – FAQ (June 2025)
The TU Energy Assessment Tool and Energy Assessment User Guide for commenting on oil and gas leases sales in the West. Public comments are a critical part of how oil and gas lease sales are evaluated in the West, and your voice helps ensure that decisions reflect the full range of local knowledge and community values. By submitting a comment, you contribute insights about fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, water resources, cultural sites, and other on‑the‑ground considerations that agencies may not otherwise see. Whether you support, oppose, or simply have questions about proposed leasing, taking a few minutes to share your perspective strengthens the transparency and accountability of the process and helps shape responsible management of our public lands.
TU and partners Responsible Energy Development report
TU and partners Speculative Leasing Report
CO The oil and gas landscape 2025 (pdf)
NV The oil and gas landscape 2025 (pdf)
MT The oil and gas landscape 2025 (pdf)
NM The oil and gas landscape 2025 (pdf)
UT The oil and gas landscape 2025 (pdf)
WY The oil and gas landscape 2025 (pdf)
Visit Important TU Policies
TU Policies listed in the Tacklebox are designed as a one-stop-shop for all of TU’s Board approved policies that have application for chapters and councils.