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US reps from Pa. introduce bill to reauthorize abandoned mine land fund

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US reps from Pa. introduce bill to reauthorize abandoned mine land fund

Two Democratic U.S. Representatives from Pennsylvania introduced a bill aimed at cleaning up abandoned coal mines across the nation, according to a Sept. 9 release.

U.S. Reps. Matt Cartwright and Glenn Thompson submitted the Abandoned Mine Land Reauthorization Act on Sept. 9 to ensure states have the resources to restore polluted mine sites and promote economic development in communities affected by the declining coal sector, according to a release.

If passed, the bill would reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Land, or AML, trust fund, which was established through the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and is set to expire in two years, according to the release. The legislation seeks to extend states' authority to collect fees from coal mine operators at current levels for 15 years and expands funding for states that have not been certified for reclaiming high-priority coal AML areas. It also would delegate emergency AML programs to states and reimburse them for AML fees that have been sequestered since fiscal 2013.

"Abandoned coal mines pose a great risk to our health, our environment, and our economic development," Cartwright said. "Nearly 10% of all Pennsylvanians live within one mile of an abandoned mine. We need to invest in their well-being and make sure they are safe from the health hazards that come from living near these sites."

Cartwright and Thompson, along with other coal-state representatives, also co-sponsored legislation in April that would accelerate the investment of $1 billion in unappropriated funds over the next five years so states could invest in communities affected by abandoned mines, according to an April release. The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More, or RECLAIM, Act in a 26-10 vote May 1.

On the Senate side, six mining-state Democrats introduced a bill earlier this year to extend the abandoned mine land reclamation fee on coal producers by another 15 years beyond its expiration date.