Overview
Title
To require the Secretary of the Interior to take certain actions with respect to certain qualified coal applications, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants the person in charge of managing land (the Secretary of the Interior) to make decisions faster about where people can dig for coal, even if it means skipping some rules. It also says some past rules about coal mining don't count anymore, no matter what the courts have said.
Summary AI
H.R. 280, also known as the "Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025" or the "COAL Act of 2025," mandates the Secretary of the Interior to expedite certain actions regarding coal lease applications. For applications already under environmental review, the Secretary must quickly publish draft assessments, finalize the fair market value, and approve these applications. Additionally, the bill nullifies Secretarial Order 3338 related to the Federal coal leasing program, regardless of previous judicial decisions or departmental reviews.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025," or the "COAL Act of 2025," seeks to streamline the process for approving coal leases on federal lands. The bill mandates the Secretary of the Interior to expedite the handling of pending coal lease applications and remove certain previous regulations. Specifically, it requires the swift processing of applications that are already undergoing environmental review and invalidates a previous Secretarial Order related to coal leasing.
Summary of Significant Issues
A significant issue highlighted by the bill is the lack of specificity in the processes it outlines. Critics argue that the directive for the Secretary of the Interior to take "all intermediate actions necessary" is vague. This language could lead to potential misunderstandings about what actions are required to approve these leases.
Moreover, while the bill emphasizes expeditious processing, there is concern that such speed could bypass necessary comprehensive reviews. This situation might lead to leases being granted more favorably to certain applicants or interests, particularly those whose applications are already in progress. Furthermore, there is a lack of transparency in the valuation of coal tracts, as the bill does not specify the criteria for determining their fair market value.
The bill also declares that a particular Secretarial order, despite any judicial decisions reviewing the federal coal leasing program, will no longer be in effect. This raises questions about how judicial authority is respected within the context of federal legislative actions.
Impact on the Public Broadly
For the general public, the bill could represent a shift in how federal lands are managed, potentially increasing coal mining activities. On the one hand, it could lead to more jobs and economic activity in coal-dependent regions, potentially revitalizing some local economies. On the other hand, expediting coal leases could have environmental repercussions, including increased carbon emissions and ecological disruption, contravening broader societal shifts toward cleaner energy sources.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Coal Industry: The industry would likely be a primary beneficiary, gaining more straightforward access to federal lands for mining. This could strengthen the coal market, provide job stability, and contribute to economic growth in regions reliant on this resource.
Environmental Advocates: This group might view the bill negatively, as it could lead to more rapid coal lease approvals without comprehensive environmental reviews. Concerns would focus on the potential environmental damage and the undermining of efforts towards renewable energy transitions.
Local Communities: Communities dependent on coal jobs might support the bill, welcoming any provisions that ensure quicker leasing processes and result in sustained employment. Conversely, communities affected by mining operations might face adverse environmental impacts, such as water contamination and air quality issues.
Legal and Regulatory Institutions: The bill's assertion over established judicial review raises questions about the balance between legislative intent and judicial oversight. This might set a precedent for legislative action potentially overriding existing legal frameworks.
In conclusion, the COAL Act of 2025 aims to expedite procedures for coal leasing, which could have mixed implications across various sectors, ranging from economic stimulation to environmental and legal considerations.
Issues
Section 2 - The requirement for the Secretary to take 'all intermediate actions necessary' to grant qualified coal applications is vague, potentially leading to ambiguity and misinterpretation about specific actions required. This lack of clarity may result in expedited processes that overlook necessary reviews, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Section 2 - The provision could lead to accelerated granting of coal leases without comprehensive review, potentially favoring applicants aligned with specific interests or those whose applications are already in process, which could reduce the fairness and equity of the leasing process.
Section 2 - The text mandates the finalization of the fair market value of coal tracts but lacks clarity on criteria and processes for determining this value, which might lead to potential misinterpretation, manipulation, or inequitable determinations that affect financial aspects of leasing.
Section 2 - The lack of detailed conditions or evaluations required for granting qualified applications might lead to approvals without ensuring that necessary standards are met, undermining the integrity of the approval process and raising ethical concerns.
Section 3 - By stating Secretarial Order 3338 shall have no force or effect, 'notwithstanding any judicial decision to the contrary,' the bill potentially undermines judicial authority, raising significant legal and constitutional concerns about legislative overreach into judicial decisions.
Section 3 - The bill does not clarify why Secretarial Order 3338 is rendered ineffective, which could lead to confusion and challenge the transparency and rationale of the decision, influencing public perception and trust in legislative and executive processes.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill gives it a name, stating that it can be referred to as the “Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025” or simply the “COAL Act of 2025.”
2. Leasing for certain qualified coal applications Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, the bill outlines the requirements for leasing land for certain coal projects. It defines key terms like "coal lease" and "qualified application" and mandates that the Secretary of the Interior take swift action to process these applications and grant necessary approvals for coal mining.
3. Future coal leasing Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that regardless of any court decisions or reviews by the department on the Federal coal leasing program, Secretarial Order 3338 from January 15, 2016, issued by the Secretary of the Interior, will not be in effect.