Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) on Tuesday would give states and tribes more say in changes to federal coal leasing policies.
The bicameral Certainty for States and Tribes Act, S. 2938 and H.R. 5259, would extend flexibility to state and tribal governments that are impacted by a recent moratorium on federal coal leases handed down by the Obama administration.
“The Obama administration has completely ignored the will and wellbeing of Montanans and coal-producing states and tribes,” Daines said. “My bill gives certainty to states and tribes and is critical to protecting thousands of good-paying union and tribal jobs.”
Under the bill, the Royalty Policy Committee would be reestablished to allow governors and tribal leaders to provide input on the formation of energy policies and regulations to help ensure more transparency in mineral royalty and leasing policies.
“The Obama administration has unilaterally stripped Montana’s and the Crow’s voices from the conversation about how we can mine and use our own coal resources,” Zinke said. “It’s a shame I even had to introduce this bill and that Congress has to codify the ability for the American people to weigh in on our own livelihoods.”
The bill would also establish a timeline for programmatic review of federal coal leasing programs, and it would allow existing applications and modifications to move forward.
Ashley Dennehy, the co-founder of Colstrip United, called the bill “a great piece of legislation” that would put power back into the hands of experts.
“It allows states, Indian tribes, and other stakeholders to have a say in the policies that impact them directly,” Dennehy said. “As a Montanan it makes me proud to know that Sen. Daines and Rep. Zinke are working for a better relationship with the Department of the Interior. I hope that this will save coal towns like mine, and give us the opportunity to prosper and keep Montana an energy exporter for many years to come. By putting the people who are directly impacted in the position of advising our federal leaders you are putting a real-world experience on the policies.”