Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Community Reclamation Partnerships Act This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to revise the abandoned mine land reclamation program which restores land and water adversely impacted by surface coal mines that were abandoned before SMCRA's enactment. A state with an approved abandoned mine reclamation program may enter into a memorandum of understanding with relevant federal or state agencies (or both) for remediating mine drainage on abandoned mine land and water impacted by abandoned mines. In addition, the bill authorizes a partnership between a state and a community reclaimer for remediating abandoned mine land if: the partnership's proposed project is consistent with an approved state memorandum of understanding and conducted on certain prioritized sites; the state assumes all responsibly on behalf of the community reclaimer and the owner of the proposed project site for costs or damages resulting from actions or inactions of the community reclaimer in carrying out the project, except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the community reclaimer; and the state has necessary legal authority to conduct the project and has financial resources to ensure the project's completion. A community reclaimer is a person who: (1) voluntarily assists a state in a reclamation project, (2) did not participate in any way in the creation of site conditions at the proposed site or activities that caused any land or waters to become eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under SMCRA, (3) is not a past or current owner or operator of any site with ongoing reclamation obligations, and (4) is not subject to outstanding violations of surface coal mining permits.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 189.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-260.
Mr. Thompson (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7645-7646)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2937.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7645)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7645)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 189.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-260.
Mr. Thompson (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7645-7646)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2937.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7645)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7645)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Environmental Protection
CoalEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchGovernment liabilityHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIntergovernmental relationsLand use and conservationMiningPublic participation and lobbyingState and local government operationsWater quality
Community Reclamation Partnerships Act
USA115th CongressHR-2937| House
| Updated: 10/3/2017
Community Reclamation Partnerships Act This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to revise the abandoned mine land reclamation program which restores land and water adversely impacted by surface coal mines that were abandoned before SMCRA's enactment. A state with an approved abandoned mine reclamation program may enter into a memorandum of understanding with relevant federal or state agencies (or both) for remediating mine drainage on abandoned mine land and water impacted by abandoned mines. In addition, the bill authorizes a partnership between a state and a community reclaimer for remediating abandoned mine land if: the partnership's proposed project is consistent with an approved state memorandum of understanding and conducted on certain prioritized sites; the state assumes all responsibly on behalf of the community reclaimer and the owner of the proposed project site for costs or damages resulting from actions or inactions of the community reclaimer in carrying out the project, except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the community reclaimer; and the state has necessary legal authority to conduct the project and has financial resources to ensure the project's completion. A community reclaimer is a person who: (1) voluntarily assists a state in a reclamation project, (2) did not participate in any way in the creation of site conditions at the proposed site or activities that caused any land or waters to become eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under SMCRA, (3) is not a past or current owner or operator of any site with ongoing reclamation obligations, and (4) is not subject to outstanding violations of surface coal mining permits.
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Environmental Protection
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
CoalEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchGovernment liabilityHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIntergovernmental relationsLand use and conservationMiningPublic participation and lobbyingState and local government operationsWater quality