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COAL Act of 2025
9/9/2025, 8:05 AM
Summary of Bill HR 280
One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a competitive leasing process for coal leases on federal lands. This process would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct competitive lease sales for coal leases, rather than relying on noncompetitive leasing as has been done in the past.
Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to consider the environmental and social impacts of coal leasing when making decisions on lease applications. This includes assessing the potential impacts on air and water quality, wildlife habitat, and local communities. The bill also includes provisions aimed at increasing transparency and public participation in the coal leasing process. This includes requiring the Secretary of the Interior to provide public notice of lease sales and opportunities for public comment. Overall, Bill 119 hr 280 seeks to reform the coal leasing process on federal lands to ensure that it is conducted in a more transparent and environmentally responsible manner.
Congressional Summary of HR 280
Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025 or the COAL Act of 2025
This bill requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to process certain applications to lease coal mineral estates owned by the federal government in order to develop coal.
If the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 has commenced for an application, then the BLM must 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.
With respect to previously awarded coal leases, the BLM must grant any additional approvals required for mining activities to commence.
Finally, the bill nullifies the Department of the Interior's Secretarial Order 3338, which placed a hold on most new federal coal leases until the BLM completes a comprehensive review of the federal coal program.
