The House approved legislation on Monday that U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced to empower states to partner with non-governmental organizations (NGO) to reclaim abandoned mines and to address related water pollution issues.
The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act, H.R. 2937, which LaHood introduced with support from U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), would advance mine reclamation by allowing states to assume legal and regulatory liability on behalf of NGOs willing to take part in state reclamation programs.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, today more than $10.5 billion worth of abandoned coal mine sites remain across the United States.
Abandoned mines not only present health and safety issues, but also lost opportunities for further development, LaHood said. The cost of reclaiming abandoned mine sites strains state finances, and costs are expected to grow over time. The outstanding abandoned mine land liabilities in LaHood’s home state of Illinois is $156 million; and in his district, the 18th Congressional District, it totals $17 million, he said.
Third-party groups working to help clean up abandoned mines should be protected from frivolous lawsuits, he added.
“This bill empowers state and local community leaders who want to assist in abandoned mine cleanup efforts so that future development can occur in these areas. No group should be punished for wanting to help out their local community in a responsible way,” LaHood said on the House floor.
Thompson, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said H.R. 2937 would help address issues presented in Pennsylvania’s Fifth Congressional District, which he represents, as well as around the nation.
“… My congressional district has more abandoned mine sites than any congressional district in the country, so I am very grateful for the leadership that Mr. LaHood has shown in bringing H.R. 2937 forward,” Thompson said in remarks from the House floor in support of the bill.
“The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act enables states to partner with Good Samaritan entities to reclaim abandoned mine sites and facilitate acid mine drainage cleanup,” Thompson said.
The legislation would also address the issue of water pollution at abandoned mine sites, LaHood added, by ending the practice of forcing states to choose between potential noncompliance with the Clean Water Act or foregoing acid mine drainage and abatement projects altogether.
“States, like Pennsylvania, have successfully addressed this problem by establishing their own guidelines for the treatment of water pollution at abandoned mine land sites,” LaHood, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said. Those strategies have resulted in successful water treatment projects and a reduction in acid mine drainage.
“We want to replicate that across the country with this legislation,” LaHood added.