The United States is investing in cleaning up abandoned mines

In the United States, the government will provide $ 725 million in federal funding this year to help local governments clean up abandoned coal mines. This is one of several initiatives that the US government will launch in the coming decades to combat the pollution caused by fossil fuel extraction. Built⁇

The money represents part of the $ 11.3 billion allocated to mining under the infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year.

Election promise

The plan is part of US President Joe Biden’s commitment to create new jobs and improve health and safety while combating climate change.

American Ministry of Home Affairs He said $ 725 million would be distributed each year to affected states and tribes for the next decade and a half. Twenty-two states and the Navajo Nation receive funding this year.

Pennsylvania receives the largest funding (approximately $ 245 million), followed by West Virginia, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio.

Pennsylvania Democrat Senator Bob Casey pointed out that his home state One-third of abandoned mining sites That can be found in the United States. He said he expects the state to receive about $ 3 billion from the project over the next few years.

Employment

In Pennsylvania, more than 7,000 rivers and streams are said to be polluted by mining activities. The state has so far repaired more than 368,277 square kilometers of former mining sites. But it still cleans only a third of the total contaminated surface.

Funding should be a priority for projects that employ former miners. The U.S. government says it hopes the funds will create new jobs, but regular mining will also help diversify their economies.

This includes covering dangerous tunnels, blocking unstable slopes, Cleaning harmful substances Restoration of water sources allegedly damaged by mining.

Allocations of budgets are based Coal levels Produced in historically diverse areas.

(Kg)