Most of $1B for Mine Cleanup Not Used

A recent federal oversight report has raised significant concerns regarding the Department of Interior's management of the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program (AMLER). Despite an investment of $1 billion over eight years, only 30% of the allocated cleanup funds have been utilized, leading some stakeholders to abandon reclamation projects. The report highlights a lack of documented internal policies and procedures, which has contributed to inefficiencies in the program's administration. The report details extensive delays in project approvals, with one Virginia proposal taking over 1,100 days for review. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted that some states faced cumbersome vetting processes, with one state producing over 500 pages of documentation with minimal feedback from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). While states have submitted numerous project applications, funding has been limited, with West Virginia funding only 72 out of 170 applications and Kentucky approving 86 of 239. The AMLER program's reliance on annual appropriations creates uncertainty regarding future funding, leaving many states over a year behind in their applications. Furthermore, states and tribes are not mandated to track the performance of completed projects, complicating the assessment of AMLER's impact. The GAO has recommended that OSMRE improve its documentation, provide clearer guidance, and streamline the project approval process to enhance the effectiveness of the program.