PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 105-367.
Congressional Research Service
Version 35 · Passed Senate amended · Oct 9, 1998
Declares that the United States shall not deem as an infringement upon its ownership rights certain existing Federal contracts and leases covering land conveyed by the United States that in turn convey to surface patent holders any rights to coalbed methane gas exploration, extraction, sales, or production. Declares this Act applicable only to land with respect to which the United States owns coal reserved to it in a patent issued under specified Federal law. States that this "Act does not": (1) apply to any tribally-owned State-owned interest in coal or land; or (2) limit the right of any or person who entered into a contract or lease for federally-owned coal before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act to mine and remove such coal, and to release coalbed methane without liability to surface patent holders with rights to explore for, extract, sell, or produce coalbed methane.
People & committees
Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY] · R–WY
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 105-367.
Became Public Law No: 105-367.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10937-10939)
Mrs. Cubin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
By Senator Murkowski from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 105-408.
By Senator Murkowski from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 105-408.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12102)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S12102)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 639.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10594-10595)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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