This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to approve mining of specific federal coal reserves in Musselshell County, Montana, in accordance with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, a plan originally approved by the Department of the Interior in 2020. The legislation covers approximately 800 acres of federal land leased under Federal Coal Lease MTM 97988, located in designated sections of Township 6 North, Range 27 East. It primarily affects the operator of the Bull Mountains Mine No. 1 coal mining operation, as well as federal land management processes overseen by the Interior Department. The bill sets a firm 30-day deadline after enactment for the Secretary to approve the plan modification without changes or delays, effectively removing agency discretion to alter or postpone the authorization. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources reported the bill with an amendment on November 21, 2024, expanding the original text to more precisely define the affected land and clarify that all federal coal reserves under the lease are authorized for mining under the plan.
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