Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025
The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025 amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to create a framework for state–nongovernmental partnerships focused on reclaiming land and restoring water resources affected by coal mining before August 3, 1977. It adds a new mechanism for states to enter memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with federal or state agencies to remediate mine drainage on abandoned mine land (AML) and to implement corrective actions that improve water quality. The bill also establishes a program to appoint “Community Reclaimers”—nonprofit or private entities that volunteer to lead remediation projects under state oversight—with explicit criteria, approvals, and liability arrangements. Reprocessing of historic mine residues is allowed under specific conditions, with revenue used to defray remediation costs and reimburse federal land management agencies. The act includes public participation requirements, clarifies state liability, adds a conforming amendment to report proposed projects, and sets a sunset date of September 30, 2032. In short, the bill aims to speed up and broaden access to AML remediation by enabling community-focused partnerships that work under state plans and federal oversight, while ensuring water quality improvements, public involvement, and defined accountability. A sunset provision means the program would terminate unless reauthorized or extended in the future.
Key Points
- 1State Memoranda of Understanding for Remediation (subsection m): States with approved SMCRA programs may partner with federal or state agencies to address mine drainage on AML sites. MOUs must include a strategy to improve water quality, monitoring, operation and maintenance, and other necessary activities; public review and at least one public meeting are required before submission for approval; MOUs become part of the approved state reclamation plan if approved within 120 days.
- 2Community Reclaimer Partnerships (subsection n): The Secretary must approve Community Reclaimer projects within 120 days of submission if criteria are met, including
- 3- the project is led by a Community Reclaimer or approved subcontractors,
- 4- consistency with an approved state MOU for drainage projects,
- 5- site inventory under SMCRA section 403(c),
- 6- adequate state agreements on liability, permits, finances, and project controls,
- 7- a plan to cover costs and maintenance, and
- 8- a prohibition on permit-heavy categories (no Title V-permit category).
- 9Project submission requirements: States must provide detailed engineering plans, site descriptions, ownership/operability data, contractual agreements, financial capability, project schedule, access agreements, contingency plans, mining residue reprocessing plans (if any), and public notice/meetings before project kickoff.
- 10Reprocessing of materials (paragraph 3): Reprocessing of historic mine residue is allowed only if a land management agency signs off as part of the approved reclamation plan; proceeds must defray remediation costs and reimburse federal agencies; materials must be historic mine residue only.
- 11Community Reclaimer defined (paragraph 4): A Community Reclaimer is a non-governmental entity that volunteers to assist a State, has not contributed to the site conditions that caused AML or drainage issues, and has no outstanding violations under SMCRA section 510(c).
- 12State liability clarification (Sec. 4): State liability for mine drainage projects is limited unless the work is conducted under an approved state MOU, aligning liability with the MOUs.
- 13Conforming amendments (Sec. 5): Adds a requirement in the SMCRA filing to list projects proposed under the new subsection (n), ensuring project tracking.
- 14Sunset provision (Sec. 6): The Act is in effect through September 30, 2032, after which it would terminate unless renewed.