Great day at the Washington Department of Ecology offices in Richland, WA. Maria Gibson gave her usual A-1 presentation on MAR.
That leads me to yet another important CRS InFocus report (6 November 2019) - this one is by Lance N. Larson: The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund: Issues and Legislation in the 6th Congress.
Summary
The expansion of coal mining and production in the United States in the 20th century contributed to the nation meeting its energy requirements. As amended, Title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) authorized federal funding to reclaim coal mining sites that operated prior to enactment to which no other federal or state laws applied. Sites that remain unreclaimed may continue to pose hazards to public health, safety, and the environment. The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, established under Section 401 of SMCRA, provides funding to eligible states and tribes for the reclamation of surface mining impacts associated with historical mining of coal. Title IV of SMCRA authorized the collection of fees on the production of coal. The use of this funding is limited to the reclamation of coal mining sites abandoned or unreclaimed as of August 3, 1977 (date of SMCRA enactment). Title V of SMCRA authorized the regulation of coal mining sites operating after the law’senactment. Coal mining sites regulated under Title V are ineligible for grants from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. SMCRA mandated that coal mine operators regulated under Title V are responsible for providing financial assurance for completing site reclamation. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) within the Department of the Interior is the federal office responsible for administering SMCRA in coordination with eligible states and tribes.
The coal reclamation fee collection authorization in Title IV expires at the end of FY2021. If Congress does not reauthorize the collection of reclamation fees, SMCRA directs the remaining balance of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to be distributed among states and tribes receiving grants from the fund until the balance is expended. The following sections describe the eligibility of sites for reclamation, estimated reclamation costs, grants to states and tribes, reauthorization issues and proposed legislation. This In Focus does not discuss the regulation of coal mining sites under Title V.
Enjoy!
"A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth – some obvious truth he isn't supposed to say." - Michael Kinsley
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