To allow certain Federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and for other purposes.
This bill would allow mining of certain Federal coal reserves under Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988 to proceed in accordance with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification (Amendment 3 for Bull Mountains Mine No. 1). Specifically, it requires the Secretary of the Interior to approve that mining plan modification within 30 days of enactment, without modification or delay, to the extent necessary to mine the described Federal land. The land involved covers about 800 acres in Musselshell County, Montana, and the mining would be conducted under the terms of the Bull Mountains plan modification that was approved in 2020. In short, the bill accelerates the federal approval and implementation of a pre-approved mining plan for a defined parcel of Federal coal, effectively enabling mining activities on that land in line with the specified plan.
Key Points
- 1Defines the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification as Amendment 3, for Bull Mountains Mine No. 1, specifically tied to Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988, with prior approval (Nov 18, 2020) by the Interior Department.
- 2Authorizes mining of all Federal coal reserves leased under MTM 97988 located on the described Federal land, to be done in accordance with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification.
- 3The Secretary of the Interior must approve the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification within 30 days of enactment, without modification or delay, to the extent needed to mine the described land.
- 4Describes the exact Federal land affected: about 800 acres in Musselshell County, Montana, within PLSS parcels NE 1/4 of Section 8, SW 1/4 of Section 10, and W 1/2 of SE 1/4 of Section 22, T. 6 N., R. 27 E., Montana Principal Meridian.
- 5The bill refers to the modification as having been previously approved and now being applied to authorize ongoing mining under the lease.