Powder River Basin Resource Development Act of 2001

The Powder River Basin Resource Development Act of 2001 was designed to resolve conflicts between different energy companies operating in the same areas of Wyoming and Montana. Because coal, oil, and natural gas are often found layered in the same ground, the bill encouraged companies to create formal agreements on how to coordinate their drilling and mining schedules. For citizens, the bill aimed to prevent legal delays in energy production and ensure that multiple natural resources could be extracted efficiently without one industry blocking another. Additionally, it provided a framework for the government to offer royalty credits to companies that reached these agreements, intended to speed up local resource development and the associated economic activity.