As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a whopping $130 million has been granted by the U.S. government to six states and three tribes. The funding is aimed at revitalizing abandoned mine land through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. Over the course of 15 years, the program has been allotted a total of $11.3 billion, making it a crucial investment in the restoration of these lands.
The states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have been allocated $28.7 million each in funding, whereas Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia will receive $11 million each. In addition, the Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and Navajo Nation have been granted $3.67 million each.
The ultimate goal of the AMLER program is to transform old coal mining sites into flourishing and productive areas, providing ample job opportunities, and rejuvenating the communities that have been neglected for far too long. The primary objective is to create well-paying union jobs that will support the local economy and elevate the standard of living for the residents.
The main objective of the program is to tackle urgent health and safety hazards that arise due to abandoned mine land. This includes dealing with issues like blocked streams, risky piles or embankments, and fires in underground mines.
According to Sharon Buccino, the Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, this investment holds the potential to create a bright future for communities that have been adversely affected by abandoned mine land. She emphasized the agency’s unwavering commitment towards achieving tangible outcomes on the ground in coal communities, thereby transforming federal investment into a meaningful reality.
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