Planning a week-long event billed the “Coal Export Action sit-in”, protesters hope to convince the Montana land board to reject development of coal in eastern Montana or decide on a minimum delay action on the issue while more studies are undertaken, according to the Billings Gazette.

Led by a Missoula group called the Blue Skies Campaign, protesters have specifically asked the state to stop the planned coal development of Otter Creek.

"We are hoping that they stay neutral until they know what the risks are," Blue Skies spokesman Lowell Chandler reportedly said.

St Louis-based Arch Coal has paid $159 million to the state and Great Northern Properties to lease the Otter Creek coal tracts, located near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

Although the proposal had been fought by anti-coal groups and some local landowners who said it would industrialize a rural part of the state and help accelerate climate change, the Montana land board approved the state lease sale in 2010.

However, protesters did not back down and Chandler allegedly said volunteers would be willing to face arrest each evening if police forced them out of the capitol.

On Monday night, Helena police escorted seven protesters from the building in handcuffs.

Governor Brian Schweitzer has been a big proponent of coal development in eastern Montana and reportedly said he had heard protesters’ concerns but would not meet with the coal protesters this week.