# What the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fee Reauthorization Act Does

This bill extends and modifies a program that cleans up old, abandoned coal mines that are polluting the environment. Right now, coal companies pay a small fee on every ton of coal they produce, and that money goes into a fund used to fix abandoned mines that nobody is responsible for anymore. The bill keeps this program going and makes some important changes to how it works.

The most significant change is extending the program's deadline. The current program was set to expire in 2022, but this bill pushes that deadline out to 2037 and 2038, giving states and tribes more time to plan and complete cleanup projects. However, the bill actually reduces the fees that coal companies pay into the fund—from 28 cents per ton down to 16.8 cents for surface mining, and similar reductions for underground and lignite coal. This means less money will be collected overall, even though the program lasts longer. The fee collection itself is extended until 2028 instead of ending in 2021.

The bill creates new opportunities for community groups and nonprofits to help with mine cleanup work. Previously, only government agencies could carry out these projects. Now, organizations that didn't cause the original mining damage can partner with states to clean up abandoned mines, particularly focusing on treating polluted water from old mines. This could speed up cleanup efforts and bring more resources to the problem. The bill also allows states to work with federal agencies on mine drainage problems through formal agreements, giving them more flexibility in how they tackle water pollution from abandoned mines.

Finally, the bill provides an additional $140 million per year from 2022 through 2037 specifically for states and tribes that still have significant abandoned mine problems. It also increases the share of federal coal lease revenues that go to coal-producing states from 50 percent to 60 percent, giving those states more money to use for economic development and other purposes. The bill includes protections so that these payments to states and tribes won't be cut if the federal government needs to reduce spending across the board.

Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fee Reauthorization Act of 2021

Cheney, Liz

Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fee Reauthorization Act of 2021 This bill reduces the fee certain coal mining operations must pay to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, reauthorizes such fee through FY2028, and otherwise revises provisions regarding the fund and mine reclamation. Under the existing Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program, the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) collects a fee from coal mining companies for each ton of coal produced. The fees are deposited into the fund, which may be used to address hazards to public health, safety, and the environment from coal mining sites that were abandoned or unreclaimed as of August 3, 1977. For example, the fund may be used to provide grants to states and Indian tribes to reclaim and clean up land and water affected by such sites. OSMRE's authority to collect the fee expires on September 30, 2021. This bill extends the authority to collect the fee for seven years and reduces the fee for all categories of coal. It also provides additional grants for certain priority sites and revises requirements governing the distribution of grants to states and Indian tribes from the program. In addition, the bill allows states to (1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with relevant states or federal agencies to clean up lands and waters affected by such sites, and (2) partner with a community reclaimer who volunteers to carry out a reclamation project approved by the Department of the Interior.