Biden administration on Thursday said it would conduct a formal review of coal sales on federal land to study the impact on climate change and value for American taxpayers.
In notification posted on the government website, the US land management bureau said he would receive public comments about coal leasing programs for 30 days before the review.
This step is the latest in administrative efforts to overcome climate change with reining in the development of fossil fuels on public land.
The interior department, which manages the land and federal waters, earlier this year pausing oil and gas leasing governments awaiting program review.
This review tried to take where the previous analysis began during the Obama administration left.
The review, which placed a stop temporarily for federal coal leasing, was suspended under former President Donald Trump.
An interior department spokesman said the review was “in response to old concerns about the federal coal leasing program.” The analysis will assess the impact of the program on the environment, including the purpose of the nation to reduce greenhouse gases and overcome climate change, and whether US taxpayers accept a fair return from the construction of federal coal.
About 42% of US coal production is on federal land, especially in Montana and Wyoming, the interior department said in notice.