H.R. 167

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · May 14, 2025 · Committee: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Table of contents

• H.R. 167
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Reference
  • SEC. 3. State memoranda of understanding for certain remediation
  • SEC. 4. Clarifying State liability for mine drainage projects
  • SEC. 5. Conforming amendments
  • SEC. 6. Sunset provision

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Reference

• Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a provision of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (). 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.

SEC. 3. State memoranda of understanding for certain remediation

• Section 405 () is amended by inserting after subsection (l) the following: 30 U.S.C. 1235
  • (m) State memoranda of understanding for remediation of mine drainage
    • (1) In general
      • A State with a State program approved under subsection (d) may enter into a memorandum of understanding with relevant Federal or State agencies (or both) to remediate mine drainage on abandoned mine land and water impacted by abandoned mines within the State. The memorandum may be updated as necessary and resubmitted for approval under this subsection.
    • (2) Memoranda requirements
      • Such memorandum shall establish a strategy satisfactory to the State and Federal agencies that are parties to the memorandum, to address water pollution resulting from mine drainage at sites eligible for reclamation and mine drainage abatement expenditures under section 404, including specific procedures for—
        • ensuring that activities carried out to address mine drainage will result in improved water quality;
        • monitoring, sampling, and the reporting of collected information as necessary to achieve the condition required under subparagraph (A);
        • operation and maintenance of treatment systems as necessary to achieve the condition required under subparagraph (A); and
        • other purposes, as considered necessary by the State or Federal agencies, to achieve the condition required under subparagraph (A).
    • (3) Public review and comment
      • (A) In general
        • Before submitting a memorandum to the Secretary and the Administrator for approval, a State shall—
          • (i) invite interested members of the public to comment on the memorandum; and
          • (ii) hold at least one public meeting concerning the memorandum in a location or locations reasonably accessible to persons who may be affected by implementation of the memorandum.
      • (B) Notice of meeting
        • The State shall publish notice of each meeting not less than 15 days before the date of the meeting, in local newspapers of general circulation, on the Internet, and by any other means considered necessary or desirable by the Secretary and the Administrator.
      • (C) Response to public comment
        • The memorandum shall include responses to substantive concerns raised by the public in comments and during public meetings if received within 30 days of such meetings and opportunity to comment.
    • (4) Submission and Approval
      • The State shall submit the memorandum to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for approval. The Secretary and the Administrator shall approve or disapprove the memorandum within 120 days after the date of its submission if the Secretary and Administrator find that the memorandum will facilitate additional activities under the State Reclamation Plan under subsection (e) that improve water quality.
    • (5) Treatment as part of state plan
      • A memorandum of a State that is approved by the Secretary and the Administrator under this subsection shall be considered part of the approved abandoned mine reclamation plan of the State.
  • (n) Community Reclaimer partnerships
    • (1) Project Approval
      • Within 120 days after receiving such a submission, the Secretary shall approve a Community Reclaimer project to remediate abandoned mine lands if the Secretary finds that—
        • the proposed project will be conducted by a Community Reclaimer as defined in this subsection or approved subcontractors of the Community Reclaimer;
        • for any proposed project that remediates mine drainage, the proposed project is consistent with an approved State memorandum of understanding under subsection (m);
        • the proposed project will be conducted on a site or sites inventoried under section 403(c);
        • the proposed project meets all submission criteria under paragraph (2);
        • the relevant State has entered into an agreement with the Community Reclaimer under which the State shall assume all responsibility with respect to the project for any costs or damages resulting from any action or inaction on the part of the Community Reclaimer in carrying out the project, except for costs or damages resulting from gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the Community Reclaimer, on behalf of—
          • (i) the Community Reclaimer; and
          • (ii) the owner of the proposed project site, if such Community Reclaimer or owner, respectively, did not participate in any way in the creation of site conditions at the proposed project site or activities that caused any lands or waters to become eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under section 404;
        • the State has the necessary legal authority to conduct the project and will obtain all legally required authorizations, permits, licenses, and other approvals to ensure completion of the project;
        • the State has sufficient financial resources to ensure completion of the project, including any necessary operation and maintenance costs (including costs associated with emergency actions covered by a contingency plan under paragraph (2)(K)); and
        • the proposed project is not in a category of projects that would require a permit under title V.
    • (2) Project submission
      • The State shall submit a request for approval to the Secretary that shall include—
        • a description of the proposed project, including any engineering plans that must bear the seal of a professional engineer;
        • a description of the proposed project site or sites, including, if relevant, the nature and extent of pollution resulting from mine drainage;
        • identification of the past and current owners and operators of the proposed project site;
        • the agreement or contract between the relevant State and the Community Reclaimer to carry out the project;
        • a determination that the project will facilitate the activities of the State reclamation plan under subsection (e);
        • sufficient information to determine whether the Community Reclaimer has the technical capability and expertise to successfully conduct the proposed project;

SEC. 4. Clarifying State liability for mine drainage projects

• Section 413(d) () is amended by inserting after . 30 U.S.C. 1242(d)

SEC. 5. Conforming amendments

• Section 405(f) () is amended— 30 U.S.C. 1235(f)
  • by striking the after the semicolon in paragraph (6);
  • by striking the period at the end of paragraph (7) and inserting ; and; and
    • a list of projects proposed under subsection (n).
  • by inserting at the end the following:

SEC. 6. Sunset provision

• This Act shall be in effect until September 30, 2032.