Deb Haaland U.S. Secretary of the Interior | Official Website
The Department of the Interior and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) have announced a significant financial commitment to addressing legacy pollution in Pennsylvania. More than $244 million has been allocated for fiscal year 2024 under President Biden's Investing in America agenda. This funding aims to tackle abandoned mine lands, create sustainable jobs, and stimulate economic growth in coal-dependent communities.
"This is the largest annual state allocation under the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program," officials stated. The initiative draws from an $11.3 billion investment made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Communities affected by coal industry decline face challenges such as toxic discharge into waterways and land subsidence. The funding is intended to reverse these issues, providing new job opportunities for displaced coal workers and improving environmental conditions.
Secretary Deb Haaland commented on the opportunity provided by President Biden’s agenda: "These historic resources are helping the Interior Department address long-standing environmental damage, clean up hazardous sites, create good-paying jobs, and help reinvigorate former coal communities."
White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi emphasized the dual benefits of reclamation efforts: "By reclaiming abandoned mine lands, we not only make our landscapes cleaner and safer but also create good-paying jobs and spur economic opportunities that will lift Pennsylvania’s middle class."
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's funding aims to resolve nearly all documented abandoned coal mine hazards nationwide. OSMRE Principal Deputy Director Sharon Buccino remarked, "This historic funding is making people safer, cleaning up the environment, and creating jobs."
Pennsylvania had already received over $489.7 million for AML reclamation during fiscal years 2022 and 2023 through this agenda. Additional funds will be available to other eligible states upon application.
AML projects focus on closing dangerous mine shafts, stabilizing slopes, improving water quality, and restoring damaged water supplies. The investments are designed to support economic revitalization through redevelopment initiatives such as advanced manufacturing and renewable energy deployment.
The administration's broader goal includes supporting an equitable transition to a sustainable economy while advancing its Justice40 Initiative. This effort seeks to ensure disadvantaged communities receive substantial benefits from federal investments.
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