Overview

Title

To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 167 is a plan to let states work with groups to clean up areas messed up by old coal mining, by fixing land and water. It also makes sure towns can help out, and the plan will keep going until the year 2032.

Summary AI

H. R. 167, known as the "Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. It allows states to form partnerships with non-governmental entities for reclaiming and restoring land and water resources affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977. The bill outlines processes for states to create memorandums with federal agencies to handle mine drainage remediation, establishes project approval criteria, and permits community involvement in reclamation efforts while clarifying states' liabilities in these projects. The Act will remain in effect until September 30, 2032.

Published

2025-01-03
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-01-03
Package ID: BILLS-119hr167ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
6
Words:
2,030
Pages:
11
Sentences:
34

Language

Nouns: 632
Verbs: 187
Adjectives: 76
Adverbs: 16
Numbers: 52
Entities: 98

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.45
Average Sentence Length:
59.71
Token Entropy:
5.14
Readability (ARI):
32.90

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The bill, titled the "Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025," aims to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Its primary focus is to establish partnerships between states and nongovernmental entities to reclaim and restore land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities prior to 1977. The proposed legislation includes provisions for state memoranda of understanding for remediation projects, establishes criteria for Community Reclaimer partnerships, and clarifies state liability in managing mine drainage projects. The Act is set to be effective until September 30, 2032.

Summary of Significant Issues

One major issue with the bill is the potential to create loopholes concerning state liabilities for mine drainage projects. By allowing states to manage these projects without federal liability if they have an approved agreement, there may be opportunities to bypass the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Another concern is the complex approval process for partnerships, requiring multiple agency collaborations, which could result in bureaucratic delays that impact timely project implementation.

Financial challenges are also prominent, as the bill does not specify funding sources for states to fulfill project requirements, potentially leading to financial constraints. Additionally, the potential for profit-driven motivations through partnerships and the reprocessing of mine residue may shift focus away from environmental remediation. The absence of clear criteria for assessing the technical capability of Community Reclaimers adds another layer of complication, as it could lead to variable interpretations and project inconsistencies.

Broad Public Impact

For the general public, this bill could improve environmental conditions by tackling the adverse effects of abandoned coal mines. Enhanced water quality and restored land could result from effective remediation projects. However, public trust might be put at risk if the approval process lacks transparency or if there is minimal consideration of public input. Additionally, delays and financial roadblocks could limit project effectiveness and urgency, potentially diminishing the timely realization of environmental benefits.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

State Governments: State agencies could gain more power and responsibility through partnerships and memoranda of understanding, potentially allowing for more autonomous decision-making in environmental projects. However, without clearly defined financial plans and resources, states might struggle to execute these projects successfully.

Nongovernmental Entities and Community Reclaimers: On one hand, they have the opportunity to be involved actively in environmental remediation efforts, potentially benefiting from the reprocessing of materials. On the other hand, the lack of clear guidelines for these partnerships could lead to inconsistencies and profit-driven motives that overshadow environmental priorities.

Environmental Advocates: While the bill's intent to restore ecologically damaged areas is positive, the potential loopholes and lack of clear guidelines could be concerning. There may be potential worries about effectiveness and accountability if environmental concerns are not prioritized or properly monitored.

Conclusion

The "Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025" introduces significant changes aimed at enhancing environmental remediation efforts for lands affected by historic coal mining. While the bill presents clear environmental aims and potential benefits, unresolved issues regarding liability, funding, and the approval process could hinder its effectiveness. Addressing these concerns is essential to maximizing the positive impact for all stakeholders and ensuring robust environmental protection and restoration.

Issues

  • The amendment to clarify state liability for mine drainage projects (Section 4) could potentially create loopholes allowing state-approved actions to bypass the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, leading to environmental or regulatory concerns. The language is complex and may be difficult for laypersons to understand.

  • The approval process for State memoranda of understanding and Community Reclaimer projects (Section 3) requires coordination between multiple state and federal agencies, leading to potential bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies. This could impede timely remediation efforts.

  • The bill does not specify the source of funding for financial resources that a State must have to ensure completion of remediation projects (Section 3), which could lead to financial issues if adequate resources are not available.

  • 'Community Reclaimer partnerships' and the reprocessing of historic mine residue (Section 3) may encourage profit-driven activities rather than focusing solely on environmental remediation. This could lead to ethical concerns about the motivation behind reclamation projects.

  • There is no definition of criteria for 'technical capability and expertise' for Community Reclaimers (Section 3). This vagueness could lead to subjective interpretation and inconsistency in project approvals, impacting the effectiveness and safety of remediation efforts.

  • The bill references 'subsection (n)' in Section 5, which is not clearly defined, leading to ambiguity that could impact the clarity and implementation of the amendments.

  • The bill requires public meetings and comments but lacks guidance on integrating public input substantively into project plans (Section 3). This may lead to public concerns being minimized, affecting public engagement and the transparency of the approval process.

  • The amendment in Section 2 does not specify the potential impact or implications of the amendment, making it difficult for lawmakers and the public to assess its significance.

  • Section 1 only gives the title of the Act without detailing any specific provisions or potential spending allocations, making it hard to evaluate the bill's overall implications.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill states that it may be officially called the "Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025."

2. Reference Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Section 2 of the Act specifies that unless stated otherwise, any changes mentioned in the Act refer to changes made to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

3. State memoranda of understanding for certain remediation Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines new guidelines for states with approved programs to establish agreements with federal or state agencies to clean up mine drainage from abandoned mines. It also introduces the concept of "Community Reclaimer" projects, where non-government actors and states team up to reclaim abandoned mine lands, with provisions for public input and requirements for accountability and financial responsibility.

4. Clarifying State liability for mine drainage projects Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section changes existing law to allow states to manage mine drainage projects without being liable under federal water pollution laws if they have an approved agreement with the federal government.

5. Conforming amendments Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section makes changes to existing law by adjusting punctuation in two paragraphs, and adds a new requirement to include a list of proposed projects in the relevant subsection.

6. Sunset provision Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The sunset provision states that this law will remain in effect until September 30, 2032.