On April 6, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out a resolution calling for a study of the potential for critical and rare earth minerals in Pennsylvania and a bill redirecting coal mining penalties to help pay operation and maintenance costs for mine drainage treatment.

-- Redirecting Coal Mining Penalty Payments: Senate Bill 1038 (Stefano-R-Fayette) redirecting civil penalties related to coal mining to O&M Trust Account for treating postmining pollution discharges (sponsor summary). 

[Note: The amount of penalties fluctuates significantly from year to year depending on the violations penalized. In 2021, it would cover $31,000 in penalties.]

[Note: Sen. Casey and Cong. Cartwright introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress last week to amend the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to use a portion of those funds to pay O&M mine drainage treatment costs.  Read more here.]

-- Evaluating Potential For Critical, Rare Earth Minerals: Senate Resolution 229 (Dush-R-Jefferson, Yudichak-I-Luzerne, Flynn-D-Lackawanna) was introduced directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the economic, environmental and health impacts related to the development of a critical and rare earth mineral industry in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

[Note: Penn State University and mine reclamation groups like the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation have been doing research on and trying to get the attention of lawmakers on the potential of obtaining rare earth minerals from mine drainage for years.  Read more here.]

The bill and resolution now go to the full Senate for consideration.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.   Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.

[Posted: April 6, 2022]

4/11/2022