WASHINGTON, DC (LOOTPRESS) – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined Congressional Coal Caucus co-chairs Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) and Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA) in introducing the Combating Obstruction Against Leasing (COAL) Act, a bill designed to expedite coal lease approvals by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The legislation aims to counteract what its sponsors describe as the Biden administration’s harmful policies toward the coal industry.
The COAL Act would require the Department of the Interior to meet its obligations under the Mineral Leasing Act by ensuring timely reviews and approvals of pending coal lease applications.
Supporting Coal as an Energy Resource
“Coal is a powerful energy resource that keeps West Virginia and our country running, but the Biden administration has made it nearly impossible to obtain a permit to have a lease or mine,” said Congresswoman Miller. “The Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act requires the Department of the Interior to take necessary steps to responsibly approve applications so companies can proceed with coal mining operations. For the United States to be energy dominant, we must increase our energy supply by allowing more permits and opportunities for extraction and mining.”
Congresswoman Hageman echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the impact on her home state of Wyoming. “The Biden administration’s ideological assault on coal is crippling Wyoming’s energy potential and setting our nation on a path to energy poverty,” she said. “The COAL Act ensures the federal government fulfills its obligation to lease public resources fairly and efficiently. This is a win for Wyoming, for the economy, and for the energy independence that makes America stronger and more secure.”
Background on the Legislation
Supporters of the COAL Act argue that excessive regulation and lobbying by environmental groups during the Biden administration led to delays and denials of coal lease applications, hurting jobs and energy production. The proposed legislation mandates prompt action on pending applications to facilitate coal mining operations.
The COAL Act is being positioned as a key component of efforts to restore American energy independence and support coal-reliant communities and industries.
Further details on the bill are available here.
