New federal coal leasing system

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Nat. Resour. Lawyer; (United States)

OSTI ID:5603407

Hustace, C

The federal government owns vast amounts of coal and coal lands in a number of states, primarily in the Western states, such as Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota. Over the last fifty years or so, statutes have been enacted and regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes which have governed the exploration on and leasing of such coal lands by the federal government on the public domain and on acquired lands. On January 26, 1976, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) announced a new comprehensive federal coal leasing policy to promote orderly development of public energy resources under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended prior to 1976 (1920 Act), and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (Acquired Lands Act), and in accordance with policies set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. After the Secretary's January 26, 1976 policy statement, the United States Department of the Interior (Department) proceeded to adopt comprehensive regulations in an effort to implement such policy. However, concurrently with such administrative efforts of the Department, the Congress undertook to amend the 1920 Act and the Acquired Lands Act in certain particulars. Thereafter, on June 21, 1976, the Congress enacted S.391, the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975. President Ford took exception to several provisions of S.391 and vetoed that Bill on July 3, 1976, Subsequently, on August 3, 1976, the Veto was overridden by the Senate of the United States, and on August 4, 1976, by the United States House of Representatives. As enacted, S.391 contained several provisions which were in conflict with the existing regulations. The purpose of this article is to review, in detail, the various provisions of S.391, as well as certain modifications to the Code of Federal Regulations which have been adopted by the Department in order to conform to S.391.

• OSTI ID: 5603407
• Journal Information: Nat. Resour. Lawyer; (United States), Journal Name: Nat. Resour. Lawyer; (United States) Vol. 10:2; ISSN NRLAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
017000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
510600 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAND LEASING
LEASING
LEGAL ASPECTS
LEGISLATION
MONTANA
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH DAKOTA
PUBLIC LANDS
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SOUTH DAKOTA
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WYOMING