Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB8781

Introduced
6/18/24  

Caption

To prohibit the implementation of the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Federal coal managed by the Buffalo, Wyoming Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management.

Impact

If enacted, HB8781 would effectively prevent the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from enacting policies that could alter how federal coal resources are managed in Wyoming. This represents a significant legislative move against certain environmental assessments and management strategies that could affect both local economies reliant on coal and environmental standards set forth in previous planning documents. It suggests a potential shift in focus from proactive resource management towards a more restrictive approach.

Summary

House Bill 8781 aims to prohibit the implementation of the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for federal coal managed by the Buffalo, Wyoming Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. The bill articulates a clear directive mandating that the Secretary of the Interior refrain from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing the specified management plans for coal resources in the Buffalo region. This aims to halt any regulatory changes that may impact coal management in this area.

Contention

The introduction of HB8781 may lead to significant debates surrounding resource management and environmental policy. Proponents of the bill might argue that it protects local economic interests associated with coal mining and prevents federal overreach into state land management policies. Conversely, opponents could contend that such a prohibition risks ignoring environmental impacts associated with coal mining, emphasizing that comprehensive resource management is essential for sustainable development and environmental health.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB9883

To prohibit the implementation of the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Miles City Field Office, Montana.

US HB6085

To prohibit the implementation of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Rock Springs RMP Revision, Wyoming, and for other purposes.

US HB230

This bill prohibits the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from implementing, administering, or enforcing its 2024 Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for its Buffalo Field Office in Wyoming. The field office manages 780,291 acres of public lands and 4,731,140 acres of mineral estates within Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties in north-central Wyoming.In 2015, the BLM published a management plan for the field office that allowed leases of certain public lands or mineral estates within the office's planning area for the development of coal. In 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana in Western Organization of Resource Councils v. Bureau of Land Management ordered the BLM to complete a new environmental impact statement (EIS) for the management plan under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which requires an agency to include all reasonable alternatives to its action and the environmental impacts resulting from the action. Specifically, the court ordered the BLM to issue an EIS that considers an alternative of not leasing coal under the management plan as well as an alternative that limits the amount of coal potentially available for leasing.In response to the court order, the BLM published an amendment to the plan on November 27, 2024. The amended plan made no acres within the office's planning area available for future coal leasing in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, it allowed existing coal leases to be developed.

US HJR104

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Miles City Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment".

US HB6368

Indian Buffalo Management Act

US SJR61

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Miles City Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment".

US HB376

Historic Roadways Protection ActThis bill prohibits the Bureau for Land Management (BLM) from closing historical roads on public lands in certain areas of Utah until the Federal District Court for Utah makes a decision on each of the R.S. 2477 cases, which are cases brought by Utah and counties to keep historical roads on BLM land in Utah open for public use.By way of background, a provision of the Mining Law of 1866, commonly known as R.S. 2477, granted rights-of-way to states and counties across public lands for the construction of roads for public use in order to promote settlement of the American West. In 1976, Congress repealed R.S. 2477 when it enacted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), but FLPMA preserved rights-of-way that had been established under R.S. 2477. After the BLM released travel management plans that closed some historical roads, Utah and 22 counties filed lawsuits about their rights-of-way across public lands for historical roads.Until the BLM certifies that those cases have been decided, the bill prohibits the BLM from obligating or expending federal funds to (1) finalize or implement a new travel management plan for certain travel management areas in Utah; or (2) implement, with respect to land within the boundary of Utah, the Indian Creek (Canyon Rims) Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, or the Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan.

US HJR105

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan".

US SB3593

Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act

US SB2908

Indian Buffalo Management Act

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.