1.4 million Pennsylvanians live within one mile of an abandoned mine
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is announcing that Pennsylvania will receive $26.63 million from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program from the U.S. Department of the Interior. This funding will be used to address the long-term hazards and environmental pollution posed by legacy mining sites while creating good-paying jobs in rural and energy communities in the Commonwealth. One-third of the Nation’s abandoned mine land (AML) is in Pennsylvania, with approximately 43 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties affected by abandoned coal mines.
“For many Pennsylvania communities, abandoned mine land has led to environmental hazards like polluted waterways, property damage and underground mine fire. This grant funding will be instrumental in rehabilitating abandoned mine land and investing in the health and safety of Pennsylvania communities. I will continue fighting to bring infrastructure investments to Pennsylvania to ensure we can address the effects of legacy mining sites and support coal communities,” said Senator Casey.
AMLER grant funds are allocated to the six Appalachian states with the highest number of unfunded, high priority abandoned mine land problems and the three Tribes with approved AML programs.
In February, Senator Casey announced $244 million for abandoned mine land cleanup as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and in March, he announced $26 million in additional funding for AML reclamation. Senator Casey has long supported the AML program and spoke about the program’s importance with Secretary Haaland during her visit to Swoyersville, PA. Between formula funding and grant eligibility in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania will be eligible to receive more than $3 billion over the next 15 years to clean up abandoned mine land and create a safer, healthier environment for all Pennsylvanians.
