What is the RECLAIM Act? |
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The RECLAIM Act (H.R. 4456), also known as the "Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More" Act of 2016, is a bill that amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 to make funds available to the Department of Interior for distribution to states and tribes to "promote economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977 (when SMCRA was signed into law).
How would the RECLAIM Act work?The RECLAIM Act would assist communities struggling with the decline of the coal industry in their region to transition to strong, just and sustainable local economies. The bill would create thousands of jobs across the country reclaiming old coal mines and would spur economic opportunities in agriculture, energy, recreational tourism and more.
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What is Citizens Coal Council doing?
CCC is working with groups in Appalachia and Pennsylvania to help coalfield communities have a voice in determining what economic revitalization and development will look like. In conjunction with other organizations, CCC has signed on to a set of guiding principles that are a critical part of ensuring the program will assist communities in creating economic opportunities and addressing historic environmental problems, as well as fulfilling criteria necessary for the program to achieve its explicit goals of growing local economies and cleaning up abandoned mines.
Guiding Principles
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● Improve the quality of life for people and communities affected by economic disruption, environmental damage, and inequality.
● Foster inclusion, participation and collaboration. ● Generate stable, family sustaining, meaningful jobs and broad access to opportunities and benefits. ● Promote innovation, self reliance and broadly held local wealth. ● Protect and restore public health and our environment. ● Respect the past while also strengthening communities and culture. |
Want to find out more?
You can request to be on our email list by getting in touch with via our Contact Page. Let us know that you're interested in updates on the RECLAIM Act and we'll keep you posted on how you can take action to help make the RECLAIM Act a reality!
