107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 425

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Calling for the full appropriation of the State and

tribal shares of the Abandoned Mine ReclamationFund.

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 425

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of

1977 (33 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) created the Abandoned

Mine Reclamation Fund capitalized with a reclamation

fee assessed on every ton of domestic coal production, for

the purposes of protecting the environment by restoring

lands and waters adversely affected by past mining practices;
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Whereas under the Act, each State and Indian tribe having

a federally approved abandoned mine reclamation program is to be allocated 50 percent of the reclamation fees

collected in such State, or collected with respect to Indian

lands under the jurisdiction of such tribe, respectively,

subject to appropriations;

Whereas by the end of March 2002, $6,400,000,000 in reclamation fees had been deposited into the Abandoned

Mine Reclamation Fund, but only $5,000,000,000 had

been appropriated from the fund, leaving an unappropriated balance of $1,400,000,000;

Whereas by the end of March 2002, the State and tribal

share of the unappropriated balance in the Abandoned

Mine Reclamation Fund was $876,000,000;

Whereas—

(1) the State of Alabama should have received

$15,000,000 of the unappropriated balance in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund;

(2) the State of Alaska should have received

$1,800,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(3) the State of Arkansas should have received

$4,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(4) the State of Colorado should have received

$19,300,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(5) the State of Illinois should have received

$26,000,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(6) the State of Iowa should have received $38,000

of such unappropriated balance;

(7) the State of Kansas should have received

$393,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(8) the State of Kentucky should have received

$109,800,000 of such unappropriated balance;
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(9) the State of Louisiana should have received

$1,100,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(10) the State of Maryland should have received

$2,600,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(11) the State of Missouri should have received

$901,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(12) the State of Montana should have received

$39,800,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(13) the State of New Mexico should have received

$18,200,200 of such unappropriated balance;

(14) the State of North Dakota should have received

$10,200,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(15) the State of Ohio should have received

$21,500,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(16) the State of Oklahoma should have received

$1,900,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(17) the State of Pennsylvania should have received

$51,600,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(18) the State of Texas should have received

$17,300,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(19) the State of Utah should have received

$12,300,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(20) the State of Virginia should have received

$23,200,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(21) the State of West Virginia should have received

$107,400,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(22) the State of Wyoming should have received

$323,900,000 of such unappropriated balance;

(23) the Crow Tribe should have received

$6,200,000 unappropriated balance;

(24) the Hopi Tribe should have received

$4,700,000 unappropriated balance;
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(25) the Navajo Tribe should have received

$26,000,000 unappropriated balance; and

Whereas such States and tribes are being denied the use of

the unappropriated balance in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund for the benefit of their citizenry and their

environment: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Federal budget for fiscal year 2004

3 should keep faith with the goals of the Surface Mining

4 Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201

5 et seq.) by providing to eligible States and Indian tribes

6 their lawful share of the unappropriated balance in the

7 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund so that they may fur8 ther protect and enhance the environments of their States

9 and tribal lands.

Passed the House of Representatives October 1,

2002.

Attest:

Clerk.