H.R. 280 — COAL Act of 2025

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior, as soon as practicable after enactment, to (1) with respect to each qualified coal lease application (i.e., any pending application under the Bureau of Land Management's lease by application program pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act where the National Environmental Policy Act environmental review process has commenced)—(A) if not previously published, publish a draft environmental assessment; (B) finalize the fair market value of the coal tract; (C) take all intermediate actions necessary; and (D) grant the application; and (2) with respect to previously awarded coal leases, grant any additional Department of the Interior approvals required for mining activities to commence.

This section nullifies Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016, which imposed a moratorium on approving new coal leases and certain lease modifications on federal lands pending review of the federal coal leasing program. (Thus, future coal leasing may proceed notwithstanding any contrary judicial decision or departmental review.)