A bill to further amend the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 201(a)), to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to exchange Federal coal leases and to encourage recovery of certain coal deposits, and for other purposes.

Summary

Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, other provisions of such Act notwithstanding, to acquire Federal coal leases or rights to Federal coal leases by purchase, exchange, or condemnation upon finding that development of the lease would (1) result in unacceptable damage to other resource values or (2) conflict with a previously unconsidered specific proposal for use of the land for public purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to grant access to tunnels or surface rights-of-way through coal deposits through negotiated sales, notwithstanding competitive bidding requirements. States that nothing in the section which authorizes the Secretary to approve the inclusion of additional coal lands under a lease shall require the Secretary to apply minimum royalty provisions to any lands covered by the modified lease prior to modification. Authorizes the Secretary to give priority to the exchange of those private lands or Federal leases which (1) possess scenic, historic, cultural, wildlife or recreational values of importance to the public, or (2) would result in unacceptable damage to other resource values or conflict with a previously unconsidered specific proposal for use of the land for public purposes. Authorizes the appropriations necessary to evaluate the lands and interests considered for such exchanges and to administer such exchanges.

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Documents

2 official files

• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 27 September 1978

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 20 July 1978

  Open at official source

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