COAL Reform Act of 2015

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Coal Oversight and Leasing Reform Act of 2015 or the COAL Reform Act of 2015 This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to repeal the requirement that the Department of the Interior offer under a deferred bonus lease payment system at least 50% of total acreage offered for coal leasing in any one year. Any independent consultants used by Interior for lease sales shall be subject to a nondisclosure agreement and any other confidentiality requirements. Licensees must certify the accuracy of exploration data they submit. A proposed lease sale may not be held until Interior determines, and includes in a formal appraisal report, the fair market value of the coal to be extracted. Interior must: (1) make publicly available appraisal reports, individual and total lease sales, high bids, royalty payments, and related revenues; and (2) find that a proposed coal leasing modification would not result in revenue reduction. The total area of coal leasing modifications is reduced from 960 to 160 acres. Interior shall prepare, periodically revise, and maintain a coal leasing program consisting of a schedule of proposed lease sales indicating the size, timing, and location of leasing activity that wi…