Biden Admin Proposes to Restrict Federal Coal Leasing in North Dakota

The Biden administration unveiled its final resource management plan for North Dakota on Aug. 9, which suggests restricting future coal leases on federal lands in the state. The final plan, released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), proposed designating areas beyond 4 miles from areas with existing coal mine permit boundaries as “unavailable” for future coal leasing. The BLM also proposed closing oil and gas leases in any areas of North Dakota identified as having “low developmental potential” or state-designated drinking water source protection areas. “Where oil and gas are available for leasing, no surface occupancy, controlled surface use, or timing limitation stipulations would apply to most areas,” it stated....