On March 4, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania is eligible for $26,463,897 in traditional Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund program annual grants, which were extended through 2034 by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“This annual funding allows Pennsylvania to continue its ongoing efforts to clean up our 5,000 abandoned mines and repurpose the land, which will not only lead to environmental and economic recovery for those communities but also support good-paying jobs​,” Gov. Wolf said. “I’m grateful that the Biden Administration recognizes the need to support Pennsylvania and other states that are addressing this legacy issue, which presents and environmental, public health and public safety risks.”

This is in addition to the $244.9 million awarded to Pennsylvania from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up abandoned mines across the Commonwealth.  Read more here.

Pollution from abandoned mines is Pennsylvania’s #1 water pollution problem.  Read more here.

AML reclamation projects support vitally needed jobs for 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 damaged by mining.

AML reclamation projects also enable economic revitalization by reclaiming hazardous land for recreational facilities and other economic redevelopment uses like advanced manufacturing and renewable energy deployment.

Visit DEP’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program webpage to learn more about this program.

(Photo: Little Conemaugh Watershed, Cambria County, before and after mine drainage treatment projects.)

NewsClip:

-- TribLive: Western PA Watershed Groups Have High Hopes For Tapping Into Abandoned Mine Cleanup Funds

Related Articles:

-- Gov. Wolf Announced PA Received The Initial $244.9 Million From The Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law To Clean Up Abandoned Mine Lands

-- Federal Office Of Surface Mine Reclamation Awards PA $25 Million For Mine Reclamation With Environmental, Economic, Recreation, Solar Energy Benefits

-- DEP 2022 Water Quality Report Shows 27,886 Miles Of Streams With Impaired Water Quality In PA (33%) - An Increase From 25,468 In 2020

[Posted: March 4, 2022]

3/7/2022