Bill Overview
Title: RENEW Our Abandoned Mine Lands Act
Description: This bill authorizes grants for states and Indian tribes to carry out reclamation projects on mining sites if there is a shortfall between the actual cost of reclamation and the value of any performance bonds forfeited by coal mining operators. The bill also phases out certain cost-sharing requirements for existing grants that support the development of state and tribal programs for regulating surface mining and reclamation. Current law requires mining operators to reclaim land affected by their operations and demonstrate, through a performance bond, that they have adequate financial resources to carry out the reclamation. If the operator fails to complete the reclamation, the bond is forfeited to the state or tribal regulatory authority to cover reclamation costs.
Sponsors: Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17]
Target Audience
Population: Residents in areas around abandoned mine lands
Estimated Size: 8000000
- The bill provides financial resources to states and Indian tribes for land reclamation projects, directly involving communities in mining regions.
- Mining reclamation projects are often located in rural or economically disadvantaged areas, suggesting that the local populations in these areas will be significantly impacted.
- Many residents in these regions have their safety, health, and livelihood affected by abandoned or improperly reclaimed mining lands.
- Environmental improvements from reclamation projects can lead to better land use, water quality, and reduced environmental hazards, impacting current and future residents.
- Economic opportunities may also arise from new employment in reclamation tasks, driving local economic benefits.
Reasoning
- We included individuals from regions likely to be directly affected by the policy, specifically remote or rural areas with historical and current mining activities, such as Appalachia and parts of the Western U.S. The people selected have varying occupations, some directly linked to mining and others affected by its environmental impact.
- To ensure variety, other factors like age, gender, and occupation diversity among the interviews are considered to get a holistic view of the policy effects. This diversity helps assess both direct and indirect impacts of the policy across different demographics.
- Some individuals included are not directly impacted by the policy but might experience secondary effects. Including these perspectives provides a comprehensive understanding of the policy's broader societal impacts.
- Given the policy's financial limits, we've assumed that highly impactful changes will be preferentially seen in areas with the most severe mining-related issues; hence, the focus on such communities.
Simulated Interviews
Former coal miner (West Virginia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill will help our community get back on track by cleaning up the land we all depend on, and maybe it can bring some jobs too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Environmental scientist (Kentucky)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- RENEW Act provides a crucial stepping stone for long-term sustainability and ecological restoration in areas devastated by mining.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (Pennsylvania)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could finally tackle the environmental dangers we've been facing for decades. Maybe our area's health will improve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Medical student (Appalachia)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reclamation projects from the RENEW Act could reduce health issues tied to pollution in our communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Tribal council member (New Mexico)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a chance to restore our lands and create new opportunities for our people, enhancing the tribal economy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Rancher (Wyoming)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this leads to better land for grazing and cleaner water. It's about time we got something back.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Teacher (Ohio)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our kids deserve to grow up in a cleaner and safer environment. Reclaiming these lands is a step towards that future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Environmental lawyer (Montana)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A clear path to legal consistency and proactive restoration efforts is what the RENEW Act offers—an essential step for better compliance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Small business owner (Colorado)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More job opportunities means more customers for my shop. Reclamation could open new doors for entrepreneurs like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Community organizer (Arizona)
Age: 49 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Empowering our communities to have safer environments starts with efforts like the RENEW Act. We must harness its potential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 2: $1250000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 3: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 5: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Key Considerations
- The extent of abandoned mine lands in need of reclamation exceeds current funding levels significantly, suggesting a sustained financial commitment will be needed.
- Revitalized lands could be repurposed for economic development, providing long-term economic benefits beyond the immediate environmental reclamation.
- The success and cost-efficiency of reclamation projects depend on effective collaboration between federal, state, and tribal agencies.