Federal mine-cleanup fund extended

By MIKE FAHER
The Tribune-Democrat

June 14, 2006 11:21 pm

— A federal fund that is critical for mine-cleanup efforts apparently will stay afloat for another 15 months.
The U.S. House has passed a bill that includes an extension of the Abandoned Mine Land Program, which has pumped money into river cleanup efforts locally and across Pennsylvania.
But officials still are no closer to a long-term reauthorization and an extensive revision for the program, which does not send money where it is needed most due to an antiquated federal formula.
“It’s a good-news, bad-news scenario,” said Len Lichvar, who heads the Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project.
The cleanup money’s pending extension through September 2007 is good news because the fund was set to expire in about two weeks.
And since that extension is attached to military-spending legislation, many are confident it will quickly and easily pass the U.S. Senate and receive President Bush’s signature.
On the other hand, simply lengthening the current program does nothing to address what many say are severe shortcomings.
The fund is supported by per-ton fees paid by coal producers. Besides river pollution caused by old mines, the money also supports efforts to eliminate dangerous high walls and open portals.
And an ongoing battle rages about that fact that Wyoming, which has no abandoned-mine problems, receives millions more from the fund each year than does Pennsylvania, which has the most high-priority mine problems of any state.
That is because the funding’s distribution is in part based on a state’s current coal production, and Pennsylvania does not have anywhere near the number of operating mines it once had.
“As it is right now, Pennsylvania and other traditional coal-mining states aren’t getting what they deserve from this account,” said U.S. Rep. John Peterson, a Venango County Republican.
Peterson has been involved in attempting to revamp the abandoned-mine fund and bring more money to Pennsylvania. But a potential compromise stalled last year in the House.
U.S. Sens. Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter, both Republicans, introduced a bill in April that would reauthorize the fund for 15 years and direct more than $1 billion in cleanup money to this state during that time.
Conservationists have supported that measure – to a point. That is because the bill, over time, also would decrease the amount coal companies must pay into the abandoned-mine fund.
“We still strongly support maintaining the current fees or (instituting) an actual increase in the fees,” Lichvar said.
He added that he supports a temporary extension but still is hoping for a comprehensive, long-term solution that will stabilize the fund and funnel more cash to Pennsylvania.
“(The extension) takes the pressure off,” Lichvar said.
“But we hope that doesn’t create any loss of momentum.”

Mike Faher can be reached at 532-5056 or mfaher@tribdem.com.