Federal lands, which comprise nearly 700 million acres of this country’s mineral estate, play a significant role in supplying present and future mineral resource needs. Access to federal lands for mineral exploration and development is critical to maintaining a strong domestic mining industry.

Most federal lands are located in 12 western states, which are the source of much of our nation’s coal endowment. As a result, national policy affecting the availability and use of federal lands for resource development has significant implications for whether or not these important resources are available to meet the nation’s energy needs.

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for coal leases on estate owned by the Federal Government.