HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Butcher, et al.)
Urging the Congress of the United States to provide additional
funding from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to finance
future water projects in West Virginia.
Whereas, In 1977 the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act was enacted into law establishing an Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Fund financed by a fee assessed on every ton of coal
mined for the purpose of restoring previously mined but left
unreclaimed lands; and
Whereas, To date over $1.1 billion has been spent nationwide
from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to mitigate the hazards
associated with abandoned coal mine lands such as dangerous
highwalls, impoundments, open mine portals and contaminated water
supplies; and
Whereas, West Virginia's share of unfunded high-priority
abandoned coal mine reclamation costs are estimated to be $415
million; and
Whereas, West Virginia has received and spent almost $200
million from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to finance the reclamation of abandoned coal mine land sites in the State but is
of the firm conviction that additional funding is vital to the
success of future water projects within this State; and
Whereas, The discrepancy between fee collections and
expenditures is widening, with approximately $285 million
collected in fiscal year 1997 and only $177 million appropriated;
and
Whereas, The threat to the health, safety and general welfare
of coalfield citizens from the hazards associated with abandoned
coal mine sites is unacceptable and must be mitigated; and
Whereas, The expenditure of funds for abandoned mine
reclamation projects not only enhances the coalfield environment
but creates jobs in the construction of such projects; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the West Virginia Legislature:
That the Committees on Appropriation of the United States
House of Representatives and the United States Senate are urged to increase the annual appropriation from the Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Fund to a level commensurate with annual fee
collections as well as begin to draw-down the unspent balance of
the fund especially for future water projects in these troubled
areas; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to
forward a copy of this resolution to the United States House of
Representatives, the Secretary of the United States Senate, and
to each member of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation.