Biden's First Budget Makes Significant Investments In Abandoned Coal Mine Reclamation, Community Economic Development Efforts

On May 28, the Biden administration submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2022, including $312 million for the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, which features $165 million to address coal mine reclamation and economic development efforts.

As the Administration continues to make progress defeating the pandemic and getting our economy back on track, the President’s budget makes historic investments that will help the Department address the climate crisis while creating good-paying jobs with a free and fair chance to join a union, and investing in healthy lands, waters, and economies of energy communities across the country.

“The Interior Department plays an important role in the President’s plan to reinvest in the American people. From bolstering climate resiliency and increasing renewable energy, to supporting Tribal Nations and advancing environmental justice, President Biden’s budget will make much-needed investments in communities and projects that will advance our vision for a robust and equitable clean energy future,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.

The President’s Budget includes the two historic plans the President has already put forward — the Americans Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan – and reinvests in education, research, public health, and other foundations of our country’s strength. 

At the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the President’s Budget would:

-- Support Abandoned Coal Mine Reclamation. The Budget includes an additional $50 million for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grants program, which supports abandoned coal mine reclamation projects that have a nexus to local economic development and to the creation of high-paying union jobs.

AMLER grants are distributed to six Appalachian States and three Tribes with the highest number of unfunded Priority 1 and Priority Abandoned Mine Land (AML) sites. The total grant amount available during FY 2022 will be $165 million.

-- Provide Funds to Combat the Climate Crisis. The Budget proposes $1.4 million in funding towards the transition to zero emission vehicles which will reduce transportation-related emissions and further combat the climate crisis.

--  Provide Relief to Local Communities. The Budget also includes $785,000 to protect society from the effects of past surface coal mining. These additional funds will allow OSMRE to address unforeseen Federal emergency reclamation projects, enabling OSMRE to provide immediate relief from emerging hazards in States and on Indian lands without an approved AML program.

Click Here for the full OSMRE announcement.

Resource Links - Biden Budget:

-- U.S. Environmental Protection Release On FY 2022 Budget Request

-- Federal Office Of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement Release On Budget Request

-- U.S. Department Of Agriculture Release On FY 2022 Budget Request

-- White House Fact Sheet On Budget Request

-- FY 2022 President’s Budget Request

Related Articles - Federal Budget:

-- U.S. House Committee OKs Bipartisan Bills To Prevent Expiration Of Federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program, Expand Economic Development Opportunities 

-- Proposed Biden Budget Makes Historic Investments In EPA Programs To Support States, Environmental Justice, Science, Reverses Years Of Declining Budgets 

-- National Conservation Districts Applaud Proposed Conservation Funding Increases In Biden Budget Proposal

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Praises Biden Proposed Budget Giving Chesapeake Bay Program Full Funding

[Posted: May 28, 2021]  PA Environment Digest