{"id":1533,"date":"2011-12-27T17:25:12","date_gmt":"2011-12-27T22:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/epcamr.org\/home\/?page_id=1533"},"modified":"2024-02-13T16:03:28","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T21:03:28","slug":"abandoned-mine-land-trust-fund","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/epcamr.org\/home\/content\/legislative-front-and-petitions\/abandoned-mine-land-trust-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/center>The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 provides for the restoration of mine lands, abandoned or left inadequately restored before August 3, 1977. Production fees of 35 cents per ton of surface-mined coal, 15 cents per ton of coal mined underground, and 10 cents per ton of lignite have been\u00a0collected from coal producers at all active coal mining operations (those numbers are 28, 12 and 8 respectively as of 2006). The fees deposited into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund are used\u00a0to pay the reclamation costs of AML projects. The fund consists of fees, contributions, late payment interest, penalties, administrative charges, and interest earned on investment of the fund’s principal. From January 30, 1978, when the first fees were paid, through June 30, 2007, the fund had collected $7,013,239,421 and fund appropriations totaled $5,493,809,291.<\/p>\n

In 2006, Pennsylvania was almost left out<\/strong> on a rare opportunity to both restore the environment and create needed jobs in the state’s coal mining counties, as feel collection for the\u00a0Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 was “sun-setting.”<\/p>\n

“It will take action by Congress and the President to change that,” said\u00a0members of a statewide alliance of environmental groups, watershed associations, conservancies, and conservation districts that have joined a nationwide campaign to speed up efforts to reclaim old abandoned mine land and thousands of miles of streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage, more commonly known as AMD.<\/p>\n

“…and it did.”<\/strong> In December 2006, as one of the 109th Congress\u2019 final acts before adjourning, the House and Senate passed legislation\u00a0extending and revamping a federal law that mandates a reclamation fee on each ton of coal produced in the country.\u00a0The fee collection will sunset again in 2020, but that doesn’t mean that AML Reclamation will be complete. \u00a0Here are some interesting infographics that were made as we are 2\/3 or the way through the 15 year reauthorization. \u00a0They make a good case to show that reauthorization will be needed in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AML_Program_Visualization_2016_Page_1\"<\/a> \"AML_Program_Visualization_2016_Page_2\"<\/a> \"AML_Program_Visualization_2016_Page_3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Reclamation efforts in the coalfields across the country depend on this coal fee. This fee\u00a0is justified because for three centuries\u00a0coal companies\u00a0paid nothing back to the communities and lands that they scarred. Mining operations only last for so many years, but the hazardous effect it has on the land and water continue for centuries\u00a0afterwards, causing health and safety issues for those who live near former mines. In 2016, 5.5\u00a0Million Americans still live less than a mile from a dangerous abandoned mine site. By 2022, Pennsylvania will expect to see approximately $1.4 billion in funding to help reclaim an estimated $15 billion problem.<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n

How can you help? <\/strong>\u00a0Urge your U.S. Congressional\u00a0Representative to support the reauthorization of the AML Trust Fund for continued reclamation of hazardous abandoned mine lands throughout the nation! \u00a0Copy the previous sentence then go to our Write\u00a0Your Legislator<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

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AML Trust Fund Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n