COAL Act of 2025: Fast-Tracking Coal Leases, Sidestepping Environmental Review

The COAL Act of 2025, officially titled the "Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025," is all about getting coal leases approved – fast. This bill pushes the Secretary to speed up the process for pending coal lease applications and essentially greenlights mining operations on leases that have already been awarded. It's a direct move to boost coal production by cutting through what it sees as bureaucratic delays.

Burning Through Approvals

This bill isn't subtle. Section 2 lays out the fast-track: if a coal lease application is pending and has an environmental review underway, the Secretary must publish a draft environmental assessment (if one hasn't been done already), figure out the fair market value of the coal, and, most importantly, "take all necessary steps to approve the application" and then actually approve it. No wiggle room – it's mandated. For leases already awarded, the Secretary has to grant any further approvals needed for mining to start.

Let's say you're a mining company with a pending application. This bill is your golden ticket. But if you're a rancher whose land is next to a proposed mine, you might be worried about the fast-tracked process skipping over crucial environmental impact checks. For example, consider a community that relies on well water. Usually, a thorough environmental assessment would examine how the mine might affect that water supply, and if there are any harmful impacts, that could be a reason to deny a lease. This bill, however, seems to require approval regardless, potentially putting that community's water at risk. Section 2 leaves little room for consideration of those impacts.

Ditching the Safeguards

Section 3 throws out Secretarial Order 3338, issued back in 2016. That order put a pause on new coal leases while the Department of the Interior reviewed the environmental impact of the federal coal program. By nullifying this order, the COAL Act removes a layer of scrutiny designed to protect the environment and public health. The bill explicitly states this nullification stands, regardless of any court rulings or departmental reviews.

Imagine you're a small business owner near a potential coal mine site. Secretarial Order 3338 provided a chance for your concerns about air and water quality to be heard during a comprehensive review. The COAL Act removes that safeguard, potentially prioritizing coal production over your business and community's well-being. The bill doesn't just remove a potential obstacle; it erases it completely, along with any protections it offered.

The Bottom Line

The COAL Act of 2025 is a clear push to prioritize coal production. By mandating quick approvals and removing a key environmental review process, it raises serious questions about the balance between energy development and environmental protection. The bill's language leaves little room for consideration of long-term impacts on communities and ecosystems, focusing instead on rapid expansion of coal mining operations.