US Representatives introduce MINES Act to prevent coal mine collapses

WASHINGTON D.C.– On Thursday, July 25, U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-Illinois 13), Mike Bost (R-Illinois 12), Alex Mooney (R-West Viriginia 2) and Matt Cartwright (D-Pennsylvania 8) introduced the Monitoring, Investigating, Navigating and Explaining Subsidence Act to improve transparency into the federal government’s efforts to prevent coal mine collapses. 

The bipartisan legislation would require the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to provide a report to Congress on the agency’s efforts to prevent subsidence events and deal with local economic consequences of coal mine collapses. Doing so is an initial step toward expanding and improving prevention and response efforts.

The full text of the MINES Act can be found here.

“In Central Illinois, we’ve seen firsthand the danger that mine collapses pose to our communities’ safety and livelihoods,” Budzinski said. “A year since a mine collapsed underneath a Belleville grocery store, the store remains closed and folks continue to struggle to access nutritious food. From store, school and road closures to the displacement of residents from their homes, these events can be devastating. With millions of Americans living in close proximity to abandoned mines – including many of my constituents – it’s critical that we improve our understanding of how to prevent the subsidence of coal mines and make our communities more resilient in the aftermath.”

“Southern Illinois is coal country – mining is in our blood. Across my district there are many abandoned mines, left empty and uninspected. We shouldn’t wait for disaster to strike before taking action to prevent collapses or costly accidents,” Bost said. “This legislation will add more transparency and accountability from the government, requiring public reports on the state of our mines. I’m proud to support these reforms to provide the people of Southern Illinois the peace of mind they deserve.”

“West Virginia is a proud coal mining state, and we want to ensure our communities remain safe after the mines cease operations. I’m proud to sponsor the bipartisan MINES Act to have the Department of the Interior report to Congress on how we can prevent mine collapses and sinkholes like we have seen in Fairmont and Pineville,” Mooney said. 

“Abandoned coal mines and mine subsidence are a risk to our communities, prevent economic development and pose environmental dangers,” Cartwright said. “That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve transparency into the federal government’s efforts to prevent subsidence events and ensure the safety and well-being of the residents of Northeast Pennsylvania.”