Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $22 Million to Address Legacy Pollution, Revitalize Communities in Virginia

WASHINGTON - The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) today announced more than $22 million in fiscal year 2024 funding from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to address dangerous and polluting abandoned mine lands (AML), create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs and catalyze economic opportunity in coal communities across Virginia.

Virginia also received nearly $300,000 to update its abandoned mine land inventory in support of future remediation efforts.

Millions of Americans nationwide live less than a mile from an abandoned coal mine. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided a total of $16 billion to address legacy pollution, including nearly $11.3 billion in AML funding over 15 years that is facilitated by OSMRE. This historic funding is expected to address nearly all of the currently inventoried abandoned coal mine lands in the nation, which will help communities address and eliminate dangerous conditions and pollution caused by historic coal mining.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law infuses coal communities with the funding necessary to turn past pollution into future prosperity," said Principal Deputy Director Sharon Buccino. "This historic funding is making people safer, cleaning up the environment, and creating jobs outcomes that these communities need and deserve."

Today's announcement builds on nearly $45.6 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda allocated to Virginia for AML reclamation in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Including today's announcement, OSMRE has made over $552 million in awards for AML remediation in fiscal year 2024. Funding will be awarded to additional eligible states on a rolling basis as they apply.

"This important funding is already leading to positive changes in our coalfield communities that include Southwest Virginia, parts of the New River Valley, and around Richmond," said Virginia Energy Director Glenn Davis. "Projects completed, underway, and in the planning phases are holistically improving communities and entire watersheds."

AML reclamation supports jobs in coal communities by investing in projects that close dangerous mine shafts, reclaim unstable slopes, improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage, and restore water supplies damaged by mining. Awards can also enable economic revitalization by reclaiming hazardous land for recreational facilities and other forms of redevelopment, such as advanced manufacturing and renewable energy deployment. As directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, OSMRE is prioritizing projects that employ current and former employees of the coal industry.

This funding is a part of the Biden-Harris administration's unprecedented investments in communities and workers to support an equitable transition to a sustainable economy and healthier environment after the closure of mines or power plants. This effort also advances the President's Justice40 Initiative which sets a goal to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Additionally, reclaiming abandoned coal mines is a pillar of the Biden-Harris administration's Methane Action Plan, which includes historic efforts to reduce methane emissions-one of the biggest drivers of climate change-while creating good-paying jobs and promoting American innovation.

- OSMRE -

OSMRE carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in cooperation with states and Tribes. OSMRE's objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use after mining, and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines. For more information, visit www.osmre.gov or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook , Flickr , Instagram , LinkedIn , X , and YouTube .