Community Reclamation Partnerships Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge Chairman Westerman for his leadership on the Committee on Natural Resources. I am honored to be here today.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6233, the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act. This legislation, which previously passed the House in the 115th Congress, will help address the complex legal and funding-related challenges for abandoned mines that we have across Illinois and the Nation.

The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to enable States to partner with nongovernmental entities to reclaim abandoned mine sites and facilitate acid mine drainage cleanup across the country.

Nongovernmental entities, such as Trout Unlimited, have recognized the need for reclamation in coal communities and are willing to contribute their resources and expertise to address this problem.

Unfortunately, liability and regulatory concerns have discouraged them from partnering with the States on reclamation projects. This legislation enables NGO participation in State reclamation programs by minimizing undeserved liability and codifying proven practices established by State reclamation agencies.

This legislation also addresses a frequent problem that States experience in addressing water pollution at abandoned mine land sites. States must choose between risking noncompliance under the Clean Water Act or foregoing acid mine drainage abatement projects altogether.

Some States, for instance, like Pennsylvania, have successfully addressed this problem by establishing their own guidelines for the treatment of water pollution at abandoned mine land sites. These State- specific strategies have resulted in successful water treatment projects and a significant reduction in acid mine drainage.

Currently, State reclamation activities have been funded solely by fees levied on the coal industry over the past four decades. These fees have resulted in the reclamation of approximately $4 billion of abandoned mine land liabilities. However, according to the Department of the Interior and EPA, the estimated remediation costs exceeds $15 billion. The cost of reclaiming these sites will continue to strain State resources in the coming decades, and the condition of these sites will only worsen over time.

In short, this bill empowers State and local community leaders who want to assist in abandoned mine cleanup efforts so that future development can occur in these areas. No group should be punished for wanting to help their community in a responsible way.

H.R. 6233 brings more resources to bear on this considerable challenge. I urge adoption of this bill.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ.

As noted earlier, I stand in support of this legislation and the efforts that will be made under it to have cleanup occur on these coal mines, especially, as noted, Trout Unlimited is so willing to work with local communities. They do great work in New Mexico, and we need to encourage organizations to do that. I thank the sponsor of the bill for working with Trout Unlimited.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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