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This rule will amend the coal management regulations that pertain to the administration of Federal coal leases and logical mining units (LMUs) by implementing the provisions of title IV, subtitle D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) that include: Increasing the maximum acreage for a lease modification from 160 acres to 960 acres; new procedures for extending the life of an LMU beyond 40 years; changes in the procedures and standards for payment of advance royalty for leases and LMUs; elimination of the requirement to submit a resource recovery and protection plan within three years after the issuance or establishment of an LMU; and changes in procedures and standards for bonds used to ensure payment of the remaining balance of deferred bonus bids. The rule will also clarify the royalty rate that is applicable to continuous highwall mining operations conducted on Federal coal leases.