§1231a Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund Authorization of Appropriations

Summary

Provides $11,293,000,000 for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund for fiscal year 2022. The money stays available until it is spent. It must be used quickly to give yearly grants to eligible States and Indian Tribes to clean up abandoned coal mine lands and water problems. The grants are paid out equally each year over 15 years starting November 15, 2021, and are split by how many tons of coal were mined in each State or on the Indian land before August 3, 1977, even if the State or Tribe is not certified. Grants go to States and Tribes with an approved or certified mining-reclamation program or those otherwise listed in the Act. Applicants may combine bids into larger contracts. Most grant money must be used for mine reclamation work, but up to 30% of a grant can be kept in a state or tribal long-term reclamation fund to pay for treating acid mine drainage, preventing land sinking (subsidence), and fighting coal mine fires. Recipients that use a long-term fund must update their cleanup inventory and report the fund’s status each year, and those held-back amounts are not subject to usual annual-grant time limits. No eligible State or Tribe will get less than $20,000,000 in total grants if that much work exists. The Interior Secretary must get input from States and Tribes and then report to Congress on progress within 6 years after the first payments, must evaluate the payments within 20 years after November 15, 2021, and any unused funds must be returned after that evaluation. Up to $25,000,000 is set aside to help States and Tribes with inventory updates. Projects that hire current or former coal workers may be given extra priority.