Congress has decided to raid the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act abandoned mine land reclamation funds to the tune of $169 million for Pennsylvania.
[The same legislation will also cut funding to Pennsylvania for plugging conventional oil and gas wells abandoned by their owners by $24 million or more.]
US House Resolution 6938 passed last week by a 397-28 vote in the U.S. House and is now in the U.S. Senate for consideration.
It proposes to redirect $500 million nationwide from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act AML funding, $169 million of that will be taken from Pennsylvania's portion.
The money would be redirected to wildfire management and National Forest Service operations.
Pennsylvania’s US Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman will vote on this measure by the end of this week.
It's imperative that you communicate the importance of the IIJA AML funds to the work that you do!
Once Congress is successful at raiding these funds, they'll be sure to do it again.
Help preserve our IIJA AML funds.
Below is a sample letter that you can modify to fit your individual or organization's needs.
(Your name or organization’s name and address)
(Date)
The Honorable (senator name here)
(Senator’s address)
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (name here):
I’m writing on behalf of (your organization name), working on remediation and reclamation of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) and Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) in the coal-impacted communities of Pennsylvania.
We wish to bring a matter concerning the proposed redirection of Abandoned Mine Land IIJA Section 40701 coal AML funding in House Resolution #6938 to your attention.
Nationally, this represents a reduction of $500M over the remaining eleven years of the IIJA AML funding that was supposed to go to States and Tribes for reclamation.
This redirection of funds is a significant reduction to Pennsylvania’s AML funding through the IIJA and will have a negative effect on Pennsylvania’s ability to address its historical Abandoned Mine Land problem.
We strongly oppose it.
The redirection of AML IIJA funding to wildland fire suppression as it is currently written in HR 6938 represents an estimated 6.27% reduction in funding for Pennsylvania efforts to reclaim its land and water affected by the poor mining practices of the past.
This cut of an estimated 6.27% for Pennsylvania’s AML program would result in a reduction of just over $169M over the remaining 11 years of the IIJA AML funding for Pennsylvania AML and AMD projects.
Historically, over one-third of all the coal mined in the United States was mined in Pennsylvania. As a result of this significant coal mining legacy, 28,000 AML features remain in need of reclamation.
These AML sites are located in 44 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Reclaiming and/or remediating these sites directly relates to the safety and well-being of Pennsylvania citizens and cleaning up the state.
Several points should be noted about the positive impact of the AML IIJA-funded projects:
-- The AML IIJA-funded projects provide jobs in the historically depressed coal communities and lessens the impact of the reduction of the production of thermal coal in these areas.
-- These funds have been and will continue to be used to extinguish mine fires nationwide thereby already decreasing risk for wildfires.
-- AML IIJA-funded projects have a positive impact on our communities and local businesses and have a positive impact on the recreational value of our waterways. According to a PA Fish and Boat Commission presentation, Recreational use of our waterways provides upwards of $29M/year in revenue.
-- These funds have a broader reach than just Pennsylvania. AMD work funded by these funds cut down on sediments, metals and organics in waterways and have a positive impact on the Chesapeake Bay.
Additionally, AML IIJA projects often leverage other private and public funds, and once reclaimed, encourage economic development while encouraging tourism.
In closing, redirecting these funds away from Pennsylvania will contribute to harming Pennsylvania’s natural environment, Pennsylvania’s jobs, and Pennsylvania’s future.
We hope you will help Pennsylvania’s coal communities by not allowing the redirection of AML IIJA funds.
Thank you,
(Your Name)
US Senate Contact Information
PA US Senator Dave McCormick:
-- Click Here for online option.
-- Click Here for office addresses, telephone numbers.
PA US Senator John Fetterman:
-- Click Here for online option.
-- Click Here for office addresses, telephone numbers (bottom of page).
Visit the Western PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation websites for more information on abandoned mine reclamation.
Resource Links:
-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Could Lose $200+ Million In Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Under Budget Bill Passed By US House [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: US House Spending Bill Cuts $785 Million From Federal Programs To Restore Abandoned Coal Mines, Plug Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners - A Severe Blow To Pennsylvania’s Cleanup Efforts [PDF of Article]
-- Appalachian Voices: Coal Community Groups Urge Congress To Reject $500 Million Raid On Abandoned Mine Cleanup Funds; PA Would Lose Over $169 Million [PaEN]
-- PA Capital-Star: Federal Budget Bill Would Raid Fund For Cleaning Up Abandoned Coal Mines, Plug Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells - Pennsylvania Would Be Hardest Hit By Cuts
-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: Coal Communities Accuse Congress Of Breaking Its Promise To Clean Up Abandoned Mine Lands [Plug Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells]
[Posted: January 13, 2026] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment