Coal communities slam congress for redirecting $500 million in abandoned mine cleanup funds

Environmental advocates and coal community leaders are crying foul after the House passed legislation last week that would redirect $500 million originally earmarked for cleaning up abandoned coal mines. The funds, part of the massive $11 billion allocation in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, were specifically designated to address environmental and safety hazards left behind by decades of coal mining operations.

When the infrastructure law was first signed, community organizations working on mine land restoration were thrilled with the unprecedented federal commitment. “We were to the moon,” said Amanda Pitzer, executive director at Friends of the Earth, reflecting the widespread optimism that swept through coal-impacted communities. The funding represented the largest federal investment in abandoned mine reclamation in decades, promising to tackle contaminated waterways, unstable land, and other environmental legacies of the coal industry.

However, the recent House bill would “repurpose” a significant chunk of these dedicated cleanup funds, leaving advocates feeling betrayed by what they see as Congress breaking its promise to coal communities. These regions, many already struggling economically after the decline of coal mining, were counting on the environmental restoration work to not only clean up decades of damage but also provide jobs and economic opportunities during the energy transition.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over federal spending priorities and the challenge of maintaining long-term commitments to environmental cleanup in coal-dependent communities across Appalachia and other mining regions.