Bipartisan Community Reclamation Partnerships Act passes in the House of Representatives
Contacts
- Chris Wood, President and CEO, Trout Unlimited – chris.wood@tu.org
- Corey Fisher, Public Lands Policy Director, Trout Unlimited – corey.fisher@tu.org
- Zoe Bommarito, National Communications Director, Trout Unlimited – zoe.bommarito@tu.org | 517-604-1844
Today, the House of Representatives passed the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act (H.R.167), legislation led by Congressman LaHood (R-IL) to facilitate partnerships between state agencies and non-liable third parties to clean up abandoned coal mines. Under federal law, non-profit organizations who had nothing to do with mining at an abandoned coal mine – so-called “community reclaimers” – could be held liable as if they were polluters themselves. Congressman Lahood’s bill would address this problem by providing a narrow liability shield for community reclaimer groups who have entered into an agreement with state agencies to clean up land and water impacted by abandoned coal mines.
“Last year, Congress passed Good Samaritan legislation to jumpstart the cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines. Today, the House of Representatives took a big step forward to do the same for abandoned coal mines,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “We thank Congressman LaHood for his tireless leadership and appreciate the Natural Resources Committee working on a bipartisan fashion to ensure swift passage through the House. This bill will help make communities and waters healthier throughout Appalachia and other parts of coal country and we look forward to working with the Senate to make this common sense bill the law of the land.
Learn more about abandoned mine reclamation: https://www.tu.org/conservation/conservation-areas/watershed-restoration/abandoned-mine-reclamation/
###
Trout Unlimited (TU), founded in 1959, is dedicated to bringing together diverse interests
to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. TU’s 300,000+ members and supporters work through more than 400 chapters and state councils to protect and restore coldwater habitats and salmonid populations.