Coal

The BLM manages coal leasing on the Federal mineral estate with development potential, which totals about 570 million acres, with the goal of providing a fair return for the American taxpayer while allowing environmentally responsible energy development.

Under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1947, as amended and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), the BLM administers a coal leasing program. It holds lease sales to make sure the public gets fair market value. It also manages the leases, checks that companies follow the rules, and helps the Bureau of Indian Affairs evaluate mineral lands when asked. The BLM also tracks how much coal is produced to make sure companies get the most out of the land and pay the right amount in royalties. Today, the BLM manages coal leasing on the Federal mineral estate with development potential, which totals about 570 million acres, with the goal of providing a fair return for the American taxpayer while allowing environmentally responsible energy development.

Visit our coal data page for national and regional coal lease statistics.