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119-hr-7249119th CongressWALLET

Bond Improvement and Reclamation Assurance Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

Introduced

Summary

Stronger mine reclamation bonds and clearer polluter liability. This bill would overhaul the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act bond system to require larger, adjustable performance bonds, expand who is financially responsible, and force faster federal guidance on bond standards.

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  • Companies that seek permits would have to post a performance bond before a permit issues and add bonds as new areas are mined. Bond amounts would reflect reclamation difficulty, assume a rebuttable presumption the mine closes in five years, and must meet a minimum of $52,593 for the whole permit area with annual CPI adjustments.
  • Regulators would set and update bond amounts based on changing acreages, reclamation costs, long term water issues, and market shifts. Inspectors would report condition changes that could raise reclamation costs and inspection records would be published electronically.
  • Buyers, transferees, and major owners would face stricter financial exposure. Transfers would trigger a bond recalculation and transferees must post the recalculated bond. Permit holders and "covered persons" who own or control 30 percent or more of capital interests would be jointly and severally liable for reclamation and postmining water treatment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher coal mine bonds and liability

This bill would raise and tighten performance bonds for surface coal mines. It would require applicants to post a performance bond after permit approval but before permit issuance. The bill would set a minimum aggregate bond of $52,593 for an entire permit area, adjusted each year by the CPI‑U, and let regulators set higher site‑specific bond amounts based on topography, geology, hydrology, revegetation potential, and a rebuttable presumption the mine will close five years after permit issuance. Regulators would require extra bonds as new mining increments begin, recalculate bonds on permit transfers or revisions, and make transferees post the recalculated amount. The bill would expand liability by defining a “covered person” as anyone owning or controlling 30% or more of capital interests (including owners of such owners) and making the permittee and each covered person jointly and severally liable for all reclamation costs, including postmining water treatment. Inspectors would have to report condition changes that may increase reclamation costs, and the Secretary would have 90 days to issue rules using forfeiture reclamation data to set minimum‑bond benchmarks.

Inspection records also available online

This bill would require listed inspection and related materials to be made available electronically as well as by other means. The change would apply to the inspection records described in the statute. If enacted, the electronic access requirement would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

PA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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