The Department of the Interior has announced more than $75 million in funding for fiscal year 2024 as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. This funding aims to address pollution from abandoned mine lands and create economic opportunities in coal communities across Illinois.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $16 billion to tackle legacy pollution, including nearly $11.3 billion specifically for Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funding over 15 years. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) facilitates this funding, which is expected to address most of the currently inventoried abandoned coal mine lands nationwide.
"This funding is an opportunity to ensure that these communities are at the forefront of job creation, clean energy innovation, and economic revitalization," said Secretary Deb Haaland. "We are not just addressing the past—we are building a more sustainable and prosperous future for coal communities that have powered our nation for generations."
OSMRE Principal Deputy Director Sharon Buccino stated, “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law infuses coal communities with the funding necessary to turn past pollution into future prosperity.”
This announcement follows nearly $151.5 million previously allocated to Illinois for AML reclamation in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 under President Biden's Investing in America agenda.
To date, over $627 million has been awarded for fiscal year 2024. Additional eligible states will receive funding on a rolling basis as they apply.
AML reclamation projects aim to close dangerous mine shafts, reclaim unstable slopes, improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage, and restore water supplies damaged by mining. These efforts can also lead to economic revitalization through land redevelopment for recreational facilities or advanced manufacturing and renewable energy deployment.
Funding will prioritize employing current and former employees of the coal industry, aligning with the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts towards an equitable transition to a sustainable economy after mine or power plant closures. This initiative supports the President’s Justice40 Initiative which seeks to deliver significant federal investment benefits to disadvantaged communities affected by pollution.
Reclaiming abandoned mines is also part of the administration's Methane Action Plan aimed at reducing methane emissions while creating jobs and promoting innovation.
