Insufficient bonding systems and decades of poor enforcement of mine reclamation law have led to a severe backlog in abandoned mines — and a new wave of coal bankruptcies is exacerbating the problem.
Blog Archives
Tell White House officials that coal mine cleanup must be a priority
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml Coal Coal Communities Working Group mine reclamation White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
What the bipartisan infrastructure bill means for Appalachia
The Senate’s nearly 3,000-page infrastructure bill would bring major investments in programs that support Appalachian communities, including abandoned mine cleanup and broadband. But the bill also has its flaws.
TAGS: 117th Congress abandoned mine lands Appalachian Regional Commission broadband clean energy critical minerals Environmental Justice infrastructure Justice 40
Senate passes victory for abandoned mine lands – On to the House for improvements
The Senate just passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that includes the LARGEST-EVER investment in abandoned mine land clean-up. Now we need the House to pass this bill with a few small changes that will make a big difference for local communities.
TAGS: abandoned mine lands AML reauthorization Coal infrastructure bill jobs mine reclamation RECLAIM Coalition
Community advocates celebrate Senate passage of historic bill on reclaiming coal lands
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, Legislative Director, chelsea@appvoices.org, 276-207-9636 Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com, 202-904-9187 Largest-ever investment in clean-up means billions in economic activity and thousands of jobs in Appalachia and other coal communities Following the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Infrastructure Investment and…
West Virginia statehouse resolution shows growing bipartisan support for increased funding for mine reclamation
West Virginia legislature interim committee passes resolution encouraging federal legislators to increase investments in mine land reclamation CONTACT: Dana Kuhnline, RECLAIM Coalition Coordinator, dana@appvoices.org, 304-825-3262 Erin Savage, Senior Program Manager at Appalachian Voices, erin@appvoices.org, 206-769-8286 Charleston, WV — The West…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands Coal mine reclamation modern mines RECLAIM Act Sen. Joe Manchin West Virginia
National coalition urges Congress to boost support for communities transitioning from fossil fuels
CONTACT: Jeremy Richardson, Union of Concerned Scientists, jrichardson@ucsusa.org, 301-442-1326 Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Washington, DC – As America continues to transition toward clean energy, Congress must take swift and comprehensive action to support the workers and communities —…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml biden Coal Congress economic development just transition reclaim Solar transition
Coal communities and mine cleanup at the center of federal and grassroots efforts
With bills on the Hill, proposals from the White House, new reports issued and forthcoming from grassroots advocates, and new projects underway, there is a lot happening when it comes to coal communities and mine cleanup!
TAGS: 117th Congress abandoned mine lands Biden administration Coal economic development just transition mine reclamation RECLAIM Act Rep. Matt Cartwright Sen. Joe Manchin
Community advocates herald Sen. Manchin’s coal-site reclamation bills
CONTACT: Cat McCue, Sr. Communications Strategist, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org With coal communities more in need of support and investment than ever before, today Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) unveiled two bills along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tim Kaine…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml Coal just transition kaine manchin new economy reclaim reclamation warner
The need for full AML reauthorization and more
Guest blogger Rebecca Shelton explains why politicians need to be focusing on investing more in coal communities, not less. Congress needs to pass Rep. Cartwright’s abandoned mine lands bills. Rep. Cheney’s bill, which would shortchange coal communities by slicing the fee, is unacceptable.
Coalition launches second round of funding for reclaiming coal sites
CONTACT: Joey James, Principal, Downstream Strategies, jjames@downstreamstrategies.com, 304-292-2450 Following the success of its inaugural mini-grant program in 2020, the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition is preparing to fund a new set of partners and their innovative mine land reclamation and economic development…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml Coal Downstream Strategies economic development jobs reclaim Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition reclamation
