Bill > HR167

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to establish a new framework for Community Reclamation Partnerships that will help states address environmental damage from abandoned coal mines. The legislation allows states to enter into memoranda of understanding with federal and state agencies to remediate mine drainage and abandoned mine lands, with specific requirements for public input, water quality improvement, and monitoring. The bill introduces the concept of a "Community Reclaimer" - a voluntary participant who can assist with reclamation projects, including companies with existing reclamation responsibilities, but who did not contribute to the original site's environmental damage. Community Reclaimers can submit project proposals to the Secretary of the Interior, which must meet strict criteria including engineering plans, site descriptions, technical capability assessments, financial resources, and contingency planning. Importantly, the bill allows Community Reclaimers to potentially reprocess recovered materials to help offset remediation costs, with proceeds going back into reclamation efforts. The legislation includes provisions for state liability protection and public transparency, and is set to remain in effect until September 30, 2032, providing a structured approach to cleaning up historical mine-related environmental damage through collaborative partnerships.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/167/all-info