March 21, 2019 - The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s Abandoned Mine Land program will receive $5.6 million in 2019 to reclaim abandoned coal mine lands across the state, according to a news release.

“We are so excited to receive more than we anticipated. We have several projects identified and just waiting to be funded,” said Abandoned Mine Land Projects Coordinator Lesa Baker. “There are thousands of abandoned mine land features across Virginia and this money will be prioritized to ensure the safety of our neighbors that live near these sites and to protect the environment.”

The AML program was created after more thorough environmental laws were passed through the Surface Mining and Control Act in 1977, the release states. The program prioritizes sites based on human health and safety and is charged with reclaiming these sites. It is funded by reclamation fees paid by the coal industry based on the tons of coal mined.