Mining Schools Enhancement Act

To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to enhance and support mining and mineral engineering programs in the United States by funding activities at mining schools, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mining Schools Enhancement Act 2. Support for mining schools Section 721 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 1309b (1) by striking The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (a) In general Subject to subsection (b), the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Mining program support (1) Of the amounts made available under subsection (d) for activities authorized under this section, the Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement shall ensure that at least 70 percent is expended to enhance and support mining and mineral engineering programs in the United States by funding activities at mining schools. (2) In expending funds under this section, the Director shall consult with relevant stakeholders and ensure a significant opportunity for participation by undergraduate and graduate students at mining schools. (3) The Director shall ensure that the activities conducted under this section relate to resource development and production, and include— (A) studies of mining, mineral extraction efficiency, and related processing technology; (B) mineral economics, reclamation technology, and practices for active mining operations; (C) the development of remining systems and technologies that facilitate reclamation that fosters the recovery of resources at abandoned mine sites; (D) investigations of mineral resource extraction methods that reduce environmental and human impacts; (E) reducing dependence on foreign energy supplies; (F) enhancing the competitiveness of United States energy technology exports; (G) the extraction or processing of coinciding mineralization, including rare earth elements, within coal, coal processing byproduct, overburden or coal residue; and (H) enhancing technologies and practices related to mitigation of acid mine drainage, reforestation, and revegetation in the reclamation of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining. (c) Mining school defined In this section the term mining school 20 U.S.C. 1132(a) (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2024. . July 25, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Mining Schools Enhancement Act (Sec.2)This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to require the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) of the Department of the Interior to ensure that at least 70% of specified research fundsare expended to enhance and support programs at mining and mineral engineering schools in the United States. In addition, OSMRE shall ensure that research activities relate to conventional fuel resource development and production, including enhancing technologies and practices related to the mitigation of acid mine drainage, reforestation, and revegetation in the reclamation of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining.