Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program

{{|ProgramName=Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program |ProgramType=Program |OrgSponsor=Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement |TopOrganization=Department of the Interior |CreationLegislation=Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act |Purpose=To reclaim land and water resources affected by pre-1977 coal mining, addressing public health, safety, and environmental hazards. The program aims to restore these lands for beneficial use, mitigate acid mine drainage, and close dangerous mine shafts. |Website=https://www.osmre.gov/programs/aml.shtm |ProgramStart=1977 |InitialFunding=Funded by a fee on coal production |Duration=Ongoing |Historic=No }} Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program (AML) focuses on the reclamation of coal mines abandoned before 1977 to mitigate safety, health, and environmental hazards. It involves sealing mine openings, reclaiming land, and managing acid mine drainage, with an emphasis on restoring these areas for community and economic use.

{{|url=https://www.osmre.gov/programs/aml.shtm}}

Goals

• Reclaim abandoned coal mine lands for public safety and environmental health.
• Address and mitigate acid mine drainage.
• Close off hazardous mine entries and highwalls.
• Restore land for community, wildlife, or economic use.

Organization

The AML Program is managed by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) under the Department of the Interior. It operates through grants to states and tribes, who prioritize and execute reclamation projects. Funding for the program comes from a fee on current coal production. The governance structure includes OSMRE setting guidelines for reclamation, while states and tribes manage the actual project implementation.

The leader of the program typically holds the position of Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

Partners

• Department of the Interior

History

The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program was established with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, in response to the legacy issues from coal mining conducted prior to federal oversight. Over time, the program has expanded to include not only safety and environmental reclamation but also economic revitalization through programs like AMLER (Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization). This reflects an evolution from purely environmental to also considering community benefits and sustainable development.

Funding

The initial and ongoing funding for the AML Program comes from a fee levied on each ton of coal produced, which was set up by the 1977 Act. This funding mechanism has been supplemented by allocations from acts like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, providing significant boosts to address unfunded reclamation needs. There's no end date for funding as long as there are abandoned mine lands requiring reclamation.

Implementation

Implementation involves states and tribes applying for grants based on priority lists of reclamation projects. Projects are phased, starting with immediate safety hazards and moving towards environmental restoration and land use planning. There is no defined end date for the program due to the ongoing nature of abandoned mine land issues.

Related

• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
• Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program

External links

• https://www.osmre.gov/programs/aml.shtm
• State-specific AML websites, for example:
  • https://dep.pa.gov/Business/Land/Mining/AbandonedMineLands/Pages/default.aspx (Pennsylvania)
• wikipedia:Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program

Social media

• No specific social media for the program, but updates might be shared via broader OSMRE or Department of the Interior accounts.

References

{{|title=Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program |url=https://www.osmre.gov/programs/aml.shtm |website=Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement |access-date=}}