Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary | official facebook
The Department of the Interior has announced plans to hold three competitive coal lease sales in Alabama, Utah, and Montana during the fall. The move is part of efforts by the Trump administration to support domestic energy production and local economies.
“Coal has long been the backbone of America’s energy and industrial strength,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “By moving forward with these lease sales, we are creating good-paying jobs, supporting local communities, and securing the resources that keep America strong. President Trump’s leadership is putting American workers first and ensuring our nation’s energy future is built on reliable, homegrown resources.”
In Alabama, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer two lease areas beneath private lands in Tuscaloosa County. These tracts cover about 14,050 acres and contain an estimated 53 million tons of metallurgical coal used for steelmaking. The sale is scheduled for September 30 at the BLM Eastern States State Office in Falls Church, Virginia.
Utah’s Emery County will see a sale for approximately 120 acres known as the Little Eccles Tract. This area holds about 1.29 million tons of recoverable coal. The application was submitted by Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, which operates the Skyline Mine. Sealed bids are due October 1 at the BLM Utah State Office in Salt Lake City.
In Montana's Big Horn County, around 1,262 acres with an estimated 167.5 million tons of recoverable coal will be offered in response to an application from Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC—the operator of Spring Creek Mine. If approved, this lease could extend mine operations through 2051.
These actions align with Executive Order 14241 on increasing mineral production and Executive Order 14261 on promoting clean coal industries. All leases are managed under federal laws including the Mineral Leasing Act and require environmental review and public input before final approval.
Winning bidders must pay fair market value and obtain all required permits prior to mining activities starting. Notices for each sale will be published in the Federal Register with further instructions and terms available through official channels such as the BLM National NEPA Register.
