Coal companies meet tax obligations

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - Four coal companies operating in northeast Wyoming have met their local tax obligations despite tough times in the industry.

Campbell County Treasurer Becky Brazelton said the tax payments were received by Tuesday, the deadline for paying the second installment of 2015 property taxes.

The Gillette News Record reports (https://bit.ly/1VSiUHP ) that Arch Coal paid $34.4 million, Peabody Energy $38 million, Cloud Peak Energy $14.3 million and Alpha Natural Resources $12.8 million.

Alpha, Peabody and Arch Coal have declared bankruptcy over the past nine months as low coal prices, growing wind and natural gas competition and new federal regulations have taken a toll on the industry.

Hundreds of coal workers have been laid off in recent months.

Wyoming uses revenue from coal property taxes to help pay for its K-12 education system.

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Information from: The Gillette (Wyo.) News Record, https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com