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 "Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment".
Description
Nullifies a federal rule to require that coal resources in Wyoming's Buffalo Field Office area remain available for future leasing.
Summary
What it does
This joint resolution nullifies a 2024 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule that had amended the resource management plan for the Buffalo Field Office in Wyoming to prohibit future federal coal leasing. By overturning this rule, the resolution requires the BLM to revert to the 2015 version of the plan and once again make federal coal resources in that area available for lease. The 2024 rule had originally been developed to address a court ruling regarding the evaluation of climate impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Who is affected
This resolution directly affects the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is required to revert to its 2015 resource management plan for the Buffalo Field Office in Wyoming. The measure also impacts entities interested in federal coal leasing within that planning area by making those resources available for future leasing again. Additionally, the resolution affects the Western Organization of Resource Councils, whose litigation originally prompted the BLM to evaluate climate impacts and limit coal leasing in the region.
Key provisions
- Nullification of Bureau of Land Management rule. The resolution voids the rule submitted on November 20, 2024, which amended the resource management plan for the Buffalo Field Office in Wyoming to prohibit future federal coal leasing.
- Restoration of the 2015 Resource Management Plan. The measure requires the Bureau of Land Management to revert to the 2015 resource management plan as it existed prior to the 2024 amendment, thereby making federal coal resources available for leasing again.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
This joint resolution nullifies a 2024 Bureau of Land Management rule that amended the 2015 Buffalo Field Office resource management plan. By overturning this amendment, the resolution restores the 2015 plan's original provisions regarding the availability of federal coal for leasing.
Stated purpose
This joint resolution seeks to nullify a 2024 Bureau of Land Management rule that prohibited federal coal leasing within the Buffalo Field Office planning area in Wyoming. By overturning this rule, the resolution intends to restore the 2015 resource management plan and require that federal coal resources be made available for future leasing.