H.R. 1457 — COAL Act

This bill requires the Department of the Interior to take specified actions with respect to qualified coal leasing applications. Specifically, Interior must, with respect to each qualified application, promptly publish a draft environmental assessment and any applicable implementing regulations, finalize the fair market value of the coal tract for which a lease by application is pending, take all intermediate actions necessary to grant the application, and grant the application; and previously awarded coal leases, grant any additional approvals of Interior, or any bureau, agency, or division of Interior, required for mining activities to commence. The bill provides that, notwithstanding a...