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Government shutdown looms after Trump-backed bill fails; Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits; NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings; Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here.

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President-elect Trump repeats his threats to jail Jan. 6th committee members, while also putting a stop-gap spending plan in jeopardy. A court removes Fani Willis from Trump's Georgia election interference case. The FAA restricts drones in New Jersey, and a Federal Reserve rate cut shakes markets.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

PA secures $244 million for abandoned mine cleanup

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Friday, June 14, 2024   

Pennsylvania will receive $244 million to clean up the pollution left over from decades of coal mining.

The money is part of $725 million in abandoned mine cleanup funding the Biden administration is providing to more than two dozen states. About 1.4 million Pennsylvanians live within one mile of an abandoned mine.

Eric Dixon, senior researcher for the Ohio River Valley Institute, said the funding is expected to create jobs in rural Pennsylvania, while reclaiming abandoned mine lands and addressing mining site hazards and environmental pollution.

"The Biden administration has called for these remediation jobs to be good-quality, union jobs," Dixon pointed out. "We've started to see some of the first union contracts awarded, in states like Kentucky and Ohio, and that's extremely encouraging."

The most recent funding is the third installment of more than $11 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cleaning up environmental hazards and pollution by past coal mining operations, aligning with President Joe Biden's environmental justice initiatives.

Dixon noted state agencies will use the funding for projects to close dangerous mine shafts, reclaim unstable slopes, and improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage.

"Those agencies, they'll identify those projects, they'll design reclamation projects," Dixon outlined. "Then they'll actually bid out that reclamation contract to a construction contractor, who will execute the work."

Over the next 15 years, more than $3.7 billion in funding will come to Pennsylvania under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Disclosure: The Ohio River Valley Institute contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, and Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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