A bill to allow certain Federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 362
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 332.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill (S. 362) aims to authorize the mining of specific federal coal reserves in Montana in line with a previously approved mining plan modification, streamlining the process to allow operations to begin promptly.
Key Provisions
- Definition: The "Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification" is defined as Amendment 3 to the Bull Mountains Mine No. 1 mining plan for Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988, which was approved by the Department of the Interior on November 18, 2020.
- Authorization for Mining: All federal coal reserves under Lease MTM 97988 on approximately 800 acres of specified federal land in Musselshell County, Montana (including parts of sections 8, 10, and 22 in Township 6 North, Range 27 East, Montana Principal Meridian) may be mined according to the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification. This authorization lasts until one year after the bill's enactment.
- Approval Requirement: Within 30 days of enactment, the Secretary of the Interior must approve the mining plan modification as needed for the specified land, without any changes or delays.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill mandates immediate approval of the 2020 mining plan modification by the Department of the Interior, potentially bypassing standard review processes or administrative hurdles that might otherwise delay or alter the plan.
- It introduces a time-limited (one-year) authorization for mining these specific federal coal reserves, which could override ongoing environmental or regulatory reviews for this lease.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior (specifically its Land and Minerals Management division) faces a strict 30-day deadline to approve the plan without alterations, which may strain resources or limit discretion in environmental assessments.
- On Citizens: Local communities in Musselshell County, Montana, could see economic benefits from mining jobs and activity, but also potential environmental effects like land disturbance or water quality issues from coal extraction.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic mining authorization focused on U.S. federal lands.
- Broader Effects: Enables short-term coal production, supporting energy sector operations while the one-year limit may encourage efficient mining or future renegotiation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Mining Operators: The holder of Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988 (likely a private coal mining company operating the Bull Mountains Mine) benefits from expedited access to reserves.
- Federal Government: The Department of the Interior must comply with the approval mandate, affecting its management of public lands and mineral resources.
- Local Residents and Economy: Communities in Musselshell County, Montana, including workers and businesses tied to mining, may experience job creation or economic boosts.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Potentially adversely affected due to accelerated mining without additional safeguards, though the bill ties operations to an already-approved plan.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill uses congressional authority to direct executive branch action (via the Secretary of the Interior), which could set a precedent for legislating specific resource approvals and limiting agency flexibility under laws like the Mineral Leasing Act (which governs federal coal leases).
- Constitutional: Raises questions about the balance of powers, as it compels agency approval without modification, potentially infringing on executive discretion in land management, though this aligns with Congress's plenary authority over public lands.
- Political: Highlights tensions between energy production interests (e.g., coal mining in Western states) and environmental regulation; the bill's introduction by Montana senators suggests regional economic priorities, and its committee reporting with amendments indicates bipartisan or committee-level support for streamlining mining permits.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 332.
- 2026-02-11: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment. With written report No. 119-103.
- 2026-02-11: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment. With written report No. 119-103.
- 2025-04-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- 2025-03-12: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
- 2025-02-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To allow certain Federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-02-03 — PDF (2 pages)
- To allow certain Federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-02-11 — PDF (4 pages)