CLEAN UP Mines Act of 2026

This bill changes the federal law that governs surface coal mining and the cleanup of mined land. It would treat a request to temporarily stop mining as a significant permit change, and would consider a permit out of compliance if no coal removal or reclamation happens for more than 6 months in any 3-year period, unless certain conditions are met. It sets deadlines for cleanup work, including finishing backfilling and grading within 180 days after the last coal production and starting replanting within 36 months. It also requires quarterly water monitoring, yearly stream health assessments, and inspections of runoff structures after major storms, and it lowers the share of the reclamation bond that can be released after the first stage of cleanup from 60 to 40 percent.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Donald S. Beyer, Jr. Democrat sponsor
• 2 cosponsors