H.R. 167 · Passed House · Environmental Protection

Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025

What it does

Allows a state with an approved reclamation program to enter a memorandum of understanding with federal or state agencies to remediate mine drainage on abandoned mine land, through September 30, 2032.
Authorizes partnerships between a state and a community reclaimer to remediate abandoned mine land if certain conditions are met.
Defines a community reclaimer as someone who voluntarily assists a state, did not contribute to the site's conditions, and has no outstanding surface coal mining permit violations.
Revises the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program, which restores land and water harmed by coal mines abandoned before August 3, 1977.

Official summary

Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025 This bill revises the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program, which restores land and water adversely impacted by surface coal mines that were abandoned before August 3, 1977. Until September 30, 2032, the bill allows a state with an approved reclamation program to enter into a memorandum of understanding with relevant federal or state agencies for remediating mine drainage on abandoned mine land and water impacted by abandoned mines. In addition, the bill authorizes a partnership between a state and a community reclaimer for remediating abandoned mine land if certain conditions are met. A community reclaimer is a person who (1) voluntarily assists a state in a reclamation project, (2) did not participate in the creation of site conditions at the proposed site or activities that caused any land or waters at the site to become eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures, and (3) is not subject to outstanding violations of surface coal mining permits.

Latest action

May 14, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources