Bill to Shield Taxpayers from Coal Mine Cleanup Liabilities

What This Bill Does

This bill would amend federal surface mining law to reduce taxpayers’ exposure to costs tied to reclaiming surface coal mining sites. It is aimed at making sure cleanup responsibilities and financial liability are handled in a way that protects the public from paying when mining operations are closed or fail to meet obligations.

For ordinary Americans, the bill matters because mine cleanup can become expensive if companies go bankrupt or leave sites unreclaimed, shifting costs to taxpayers. It could affect federal and state cleanup programs, coal-producing communities, and the long-term environmental safety of former mining areas.

Who This Bill Affects

For the general public, this bill could reduce the chance that taxpayers are left paying for coal mine cleanup, while also potentially changing how reclamation responsibilities are assigned to mining companies and regulators. Its practical effects would be felt most in coal-producing regions and in federal or state cleanup budgets.

Latest Status

May 26, 2026

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.