Leaders with Land and Minerals Management flew to Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on Wednesday to announce more than $20.4 million in financing from President Biden’s Investing in America initiative to help manage pollution, create jobs, and boost economic possibilities in the state.
Millions of Americans live less than a mile from abandoned coal mines, which emit legacy pollution, pose environmental risks, and threaten public health and safety.
To combat legacy contamination, the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $16 billion over 15 years, including $11.3 billion for abandoned mine land (AML).
The funding is expected to cover nearly all of the country’s currently inventoried abandoned coal mine areas, assisting communities in addressing and eliminating pollution caused by prior coal mining practices.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda gives us an unparalleled investment and opportunity to address the majority of currently known abandoned mine hazards,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Feldgus. “Through these new historic resources, the Interior Department is addressing long-standing environmental injustices, cleaning up toxic and hazardous sites, creating jobs, and revitalizing former coal communities.”
Feldgus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, made the news after seeing the abandoned mine land reclamation project at Jess Branch, located outside of Birmingham. Contractors are reclaiming the toxic and hazardous abandoned coal mine for the benefit of the surrounding community and animals, thanks to nearly $4 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds.
According to a press release from the US Department of the Interior, “AML reclamation supports jobs in coal communities by investing in projects that close dangerous mine shafts, reclaim unstable slopes, improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage, and restore water supplies that have been damaged by mining.” Awards can also help revitalize the economy by reclaiming hazardous land for recreational amenities and other redevelopment projects, such as advanced manufacturing and renewable energy deployment. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law prioritizes financing for initiatives that employ current and former coal sector personnel.
This financing is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in communities and workers to ensure a more sustainable economy and a healthier environment following the closure of mines or power plants.
This endeavor aligns with Biden’s Justice 40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that poor areas affected by pollution receive 40% of federal investment benefits.
Reclaiming abandoned coal mines is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Methane Action Plan, which aims to reduce methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change, while also creating job opportunities and encouraging innovation.
