A bill to amend the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 to improve the administration of the Federal coal leasing program, and for other purposes.
Mineral Lands Leasing Act Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Mineral Lands Leasing Act to repeal the provision that an entity holding a Federal coal lease for ten years without producing coal in commercial quantities is prohibited from acquiring future Federal leases under such Act.
Repeals the requirement that lands in a logical mining unit must be contiguous.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations regarding experimentation with the negotiated sale of leases for bypass and maintenance tracts.
Repeals the requirement that an approved mining plan must include production and operation standards which assure that the entire unit reserves will be mined within 40 years. Allows the Secretary discretion to designate a production period.
Amends coal leasing conditions to continue a coal lease term beyond 20 years for so long as the condition of continued operation and diligent development is met. Requires termination of a coal lease at the end of ten years if coal is not being produced in commercial quantities. Permits such lease to be extended beyond the tenth lease year through the payment of advance royalties. Prescribes the escalating basis upon which such advance royalties will be assessed.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Subcommittee on Natural Resources Development. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 99-417.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Interior Department.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received executive comment from Interior Department. Favorable.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received executive comment from Interior Department on amendments No.801 and 802. Favorable.
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line