Alpha’s woes highlight need to reclaim coal mines now
Industry’s efforts to reclaim coal mines has lagged for decades, and now that their financial health is weakening, it’s problem coming home to roost in Wyoming.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Facing downturn, Alpha can no longer self-bond in Wyoming
Wyoming regulators ask Alpha Natural Resources Inc. to prove it can pay for coal mining reclamation if the company has financial trouble.
Coal-bed Methane: Boom, bust and hard lessons
Wyoming’s coal-bed methane boom in the early 2000s stirred controversies over land rights, mineral rights, environmental stewardship, the disposal of water and—at every turn—politics.
Lawmakers float legislation to undo transportation offset on reclamation funding
Reps. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced legislation yesterday to repeal an offset to the transportation bill that President Obama recently signed into law. The transportation legislation included a measure to cap at $15 million abandoned coal mine reclamation program payments.