COAL Act

Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act or the COAL Act

This bill requires the Department of the Interior to take specified actions with respect to qualified coal leasing applications.

Specifically, Interior must, with respect to

• each qualified application, promptly publish a draft environmental assessment and any applicable implementing regulations, finalize the fair market value of the coal tract for which a lease by application is pending, take all intermediate actions necessary to grant the application, and grant the application; and
• previously awarded coal leases, grant any additional approvals of Interior, or any bureau, agency, or division of Interior, required for mining activities to commence.

The bill provides that, notwithstanding any judicial decision to the contrary or a departmental review of the federal coal leasing program, Secretarial Order 3338 (which directs the Bureau of Land Management to analyze and consider potential leasing and management reforms to the program), issued by Interior on January 15, 2016, shall have no force or effect.

The COAL Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 1457, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to provide financial assistance to coal mining communities that have been negatively impacted by the decline of the coal industry.

The COAL Act aims to help these communities by providing funding for job training programs, economic development initiatives, and infrastructure projects. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for healthcare and pension benefits for coal miners and their families.

Supporters of the COAL Act argue that it is necessary to help struggling coal mining communities transition to new industries and ensure that coal miners and their families are taken care of. They believe that the decline of the coal industry has had a significant impact on these communities and that the government has a responsibility to provide assistance. Opponents of the COAL Act, on the other hand, argue that the government should not be providing financial assistance to a declining industry. They believe that the market should dictate the success or failure of industries, and that government intervention in the form of subsidies is not the solution. Overall, the COAL Act is a controversial piece of legislation that has sparked debate among lawmakers and the public. It remains to be seen whether or not the bill will be passed into law.