H.R. 1457House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

COAL Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:34 AM UTC

The COAL Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to speed up the processing of coal lease applications that are already under environmental review. It requires the Interior Department to publish draft environmental assessments, set fair market values, and issue the leases promptly, as well as to approve any additional permits needed for existing leases. The bill also cancels the effect of a 2016 secretarial order that limited federal coal leasing. It mainly affects coal companies applying for leases, the Bureau of Land Management, and other Interior agencies handling mining permits.

Key Provisions

Defines “coal lease” as a lease between the United States (via the BLM) and an applicant, and defines a “qualified application” as any pending lease application that has begun NEPA review.
Mandates that, as soon as practicable, the Secretary must publish a draft environmental assessment, determine fair market value, take all necessary steps, and grant each qualified coal lease application.
Requires the Secretary to grant any additional Interior approvals needed for previously awarded coal leases to begin mining activities.
Invalidates Secretarial Order 3338 (issued Jan. 15, 2016) so it has no effect on federal coal leasing.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

March 22, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 8, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

March 8, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

March 22, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 8, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1457

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 8, 2023

Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Interior to take certain actions with respect to certain qualified coal applications, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act or the COAL Act.

Leasing for certain qualified coal applications

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Coal lease

The term coal lease means a lease entered into by the United States as lessor, through the Bureau of Land Management, and the applicant on Bureau of Land Management Form 3400–012.

(2)

Qualified application

The term qualified application means any application pending under the lease by application program administered by the Bureau of Land Management pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and subpart 3425 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act), for which the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) has commenced.

(b)

Mandatory leasing and other required approvals

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promptly—

(1)

with respect to each qualified application—

(A)

if not previously published for public comment, publish a draft environmental assessment, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and any applicable implementing regulations;

(B)

finalize the fair market value of the coal tract for which a lease by application is pending;

(C)

take all intermediate actions necessary to grant the qualified application; and

(D)

grant the qualified application; and

(2)

with respect to previously awarded coal leases, grant any additional approvals of the Department of the Interior or any bureau, agency, or division of the Department of the Interior required for mining activities to commence.

Future coal leasing

Notwithstanding any judicial decision to the contrary or a departmental review of the Federal coal leasing program, Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016, shall have no force or effect.