On October 28, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 191 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne, Yaw-R-Lycoming), a concurrent Senate-House resolution urging Congress to reauthorize the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee which is the primary source of funding for Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine reclamation program
“Beneath the scars of abandoned mine lands are economic and recreational development opportunities for communities across Pennsylvania,” said Sen. John Yudichak, Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “I hope that the United States Congress acts swiftly to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and helps the Commonwealth reclaim the grandeur of our forests and streams while we rebuild the economies of every community struggling with the legacy of coal mining in Pennsylvania.”
The federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AMRF) is scheduled to sunset in 2021.
The AMRF has been instrumental in providing the resources to help states reclaim and restore abandoned mine lands for over 40 years. Pennsylvania receives approximately $25 million annually to clean up these areas and to help restore the quality of waterways that have been impaired by acid mine drainage.
The resolution now goes to the House for action.
Related Article:
[Posted: October 28, 2019] www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com
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