To allow certain Federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 4, 2025 · Last action May 20, 2025
Plain English Summary
This bill directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve coal mining on 800 acres of federally owned land in Musselshell County, Montana, under a specific mining plan modification that was previously approved in 2020. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue this approval within 30 days of enactment without modification or delay.
Who benefits
The mining company operating or holding rights to Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988 (the Bull Mountains Mine operator); coal producers in Montana; companies purchasing coal from this lease; and workers employed in coal mining and related industries at the Bull Mountains site.
Who pays / loses
Federal taxpayers who own the mineral reserves being extracted; environmental groups and conservation interests that may have opposed the original mining plan; communities near the mining area that experience environmental impacts from coal extraction; and competing coal producers if the lease produces coal at lower costs than their operations.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Coal mining companies with leasing or operating interests in Montana Federal coal reserves, particularly the operator of Bull Mountains Mine No. 1. The bill's sponsors (Representatives Downing and Zinke) represent Montana districts with active coal mining operations. Industries benefiting from federal coal leasing—including coal producers, coal transporters, and power generation companies—typically support legislation streamlining federal coal leasing approval.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Coal mining workers in Musselshell County and surrounding Montana regions; the leaseholder/operator of the Bull Mountains Mine; federal taxpayers managing mineral estate assets; residents of communities adjacent to or economically dependent on the Bull Mountains Mine; environmental and conservation advocates in Montana and nationally.
Political Subtext
Proponents argue this bill removes regulatory delays and allows a previously approved mining plan to proceed, supporting Montana's coal industry and rural jobs. Critics contend the bill bypasses environmental review processes and normal administrative procedures by mandating approval without modification, potentially undermining the National Environmental Policy Act and public comment requirements. The bill strips the Secretary of Interior of discretion to condition or deny approval even if new environmental or legal concerns have emerged since the 2020 approval. Non-partisan observers note the bill uses legislative action to override executive branch regulatory authority.
Real-World Stakes
If enacted, this bill guarantees approval of coal mining on federally owned land regardless of subsequent environmental assessments or legal challenges. It sets a precedent for Congress to mandate federal resource extraction by legislative action, bypassing the administrative review process outlined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The bill's mechanism—requiring approval 'without modification or delay'—prevents the Interior Department from conditioning the permit on mitigation measures or additional environmental findings. Analogous legislative mandates for resource extraction (e.g., oil drilling mandates in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) have proven difficult to overturn and constrain future administrations' management discretion. The 800-acre site's coal tonnage and market value are not specified in the bill, making total fiscal impact to taxpayers indeterminable.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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