Legislative Changes Are Needed to Authorize Emergency Federal Coal Leasing

摘要

The Department of the Interior has established emergency leasing regulations to make federal coal available to existing operators with an urgent need for it. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue federal coal leases, including emergency leases, on a competitive basis. In view of the need for emergency leasing, GAO recommends that the Congress amend the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize emergency federal coal leasing and to allow Interior to use negotiated, rather than competitive, lease sale procedures to carry it out. Such legislative changes would recognize the unique objectives of emergency leasing and allow Interior to administer it in a more pragmatic manner.