Travis Detaime, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association, told the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee that federal coal leasing is a lengthy process and Wyoming faces a “learning curve” after more than a decade with little leasing activity.

Detaime gave the committee a step‑by‑step overview of how a coal lease application proceeds through the Bureau of Land Management, state and federal permitting, and other reviews, noting that “the term that we sometimes use is concept to shovel,” and that the full process can take “anywhere from 10 to 16 years.”

The testimony outlined why industry representatives say faster leasing matters: Detaime cited market research and federal reports showing higher future demand for electricity because of expanding data centers, electrification and electric heating. He said recent federal policy changes have “moved very fast” and reversed a years‑long dearth of new leasing, and he pointed to specific moves including approvals of projects in Wyoming such as Black Butte and changes to federal royalty and state severance tax rates that he said make Wyoming coal more competitive.

Detaime told the committee Wyoming currently has about 3,200,000,000 tons under lease, concentrated in the Powder River Basin, but added that not all leased tonnage is recoverable. He said the state mines roughly 200,000,000 tons per year in recent years and warned the combination of longer permitting timelines and renewed demand means the state is “really behind the 8 ball.”

Committee members pressed Detaime about evidence for projected electricity demand and the state’s regulatory primacy over permitting. Detaime offered to provide the committee a link to a Department of Energy–commissioned study and said Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality holds primacy for coal permitting; he also noted federal mine approvals and other federal approvals remain part of the timeline.

Several members asked how a federal government shutdown would affect permitting. Detaime said some work continues under shutdown guidance (for example safety inspections) but that extended shutdowns could curtail activity and cause delays that have economic impacts.

The presentation closed with Detaime urging the committee to consider the long lag between leasing and production as it examines ways to support Wyoming’s mineral industries.

Ending: The committee did not take a formal action on the industry testimony; members moved next to legislative items on leasing, royalties and forest management.