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HR 9023

CLEAN UP Mines Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Chris Deluzio and 1 co-sponsor

The bill tightens surface coal mining rules by speeding and enforcing reclamation, mandating quarterly water monitoring, and tying bond release to stricter restoration standards.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9023

Overview

HR 9023, the CLEAN UP Mines Act of 2026, seeks to strengthen the environmental controls and reclamation requirements under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) for surface coal mining. Introduced May 26, 2026, by Rep. Beyer with Reps. Lee (PA) and Deluzio as sponsors/co-sponsors, the bill would impose stricter standards for reclamation, permit revisions, monitoring, and post-mining performance to better protect land and water resources affected by mining.

Main purpose and intent

  • Tighten environmental safeguards associated with surface coal mining.
  • Accelerate and enforce more robust reclamation and post-mining environmental restoration.
  • Enhance transparency and accountability through enhanced monitoring and performance standards.
  • Align contemporaneous reclamation timelines with more rigorous standards to prevent long-term environmental harm.

Key provisions and changes

  • Reclamation plan requirements (Section 508(a)(7)):

    • Reclamation plans would reference standards not to exceed those in section 515(b)(3).

  • Permit revisions (Section 511(a)):

    • Redesignates certain paragraphs and adds new provisions:
    • A request to temporarily cease or suspend mining operations is treated as a significant permit revision.
    • If a permitted mine has had no active coal removal or reclamation for more than 6 months in any 3-year period, the permit is deemed out of compliance unless:
      • The operator demonstrates adherence to 515(b)(3) with no variances, and
      • Either submits a plan to resume production within 1 year after notice of noncompliance or submits a permit revision application.

  • Environmental protection performance standards (Section 515):

    • Adds explicit deadlines and requirements, including:
    • Complete all backfilling, grading, and final drainage-related work within defined timeframes (e.g., 180 days after last coal production for certain activities).
    • Stronger emphasis on drainage control, preventing leaching, eliminating highwalls/spoil piles, and ensuring stability.
    • Contemporaneous reclamation timeframes and explicit maximum time allowances for restoration milestones.
    • Clarifications on required backfilling/grading timelines and limits on extending restoration periods.

  • Inspections and monitoring (Section 517):

    • Requires quarterly monitoring of surface and groundwater during mining and reclamation.
    • Specifies monitoring sites for surface water quantity/quality, groundwater levels and samples, well logs, borehole data, and precipitation records.
    • Monitoring and analyses must follow standards set by the regulatory authority for reliability and validity.
    • Annual assessment of stream biological condition to demonstrate recovery toward pre-mining conditions.
    • Inspections of surface water runoff control structures after significant rainfall events (at least as intense as a 100-year, 6-hour event).

  • Release of performance bonds or deposits (Section 519):

    • Ties bond release to compliance with reclamation requirements and, where applicable, 515(b)(3) and 515(c)(7) standards.
    • Reduces the traditional bond-release timeline (from 60 to 40 months/units in certain contexts) and adds references to additional restoration standards (e.g., 515(b)(19), 515(b)(20)).

Who is affected

  • Operators of surface coal mining operations subject to SMCRA would face:
    • Stricter reclamation and timing requirements.
    • More frequent and comprehensive environmental monitoring (water quality/quantity, groundwater, precipitation).
    • Enhanced oversight of post-mining ecological restoration and biological condition of streams.
  • Regulatory authorities would gain expanded authority to enforce tighter standards, assess compliance, and require timely remediation plans.
  • Local communities and ecosystems near mining sites could experience improved protections for water resources, land stability, and habitat restoration.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The bill would become law following passage and enactment (as with typical statutes).
  • Monitoring and restoration timelines are embedded throughout:
    • Bond release tied to compliance with both reclamation plans and additional performance standards.
    • Backfilling/grading and drainage completion deadlines stated, e.g., within 180 days after last coal production for certain activities.
    • Annual and post-event inspections and assessments to gauge progress toward pre-mining conditions.

Note: This summary focuses on substantive provisions and potential impacts based on the bill text as introduced.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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