ELPC Statement on Opening of Coal Mine Self-Bonding Reform Comment Period

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2016

Environmental Law & Policy Center Statement On
Federal Office Of Surface Mining Opening Review
Of Coal Mine Self-Bonding Problems

STATEMENT BY HOWARD A. LEARNER
Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center

“We commend the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for moving to look at reforms to address the problems created by coal mine companies self-bonding. OSM’s action is particularly timely because of the recent coal mine bankruptcy filings caused by poor financial decisions from executives at Peabody and other large companies.

“Coal mining companies are responsible under federal and state law to pay for mine reclamation and environmental cleanup. Taxpayers in Illinois and Indiana should not be forced to pay for Peabody’s – and the other coal companies – mine reclamation responsibilities, when misguided business decisions resulted in those bankruptcies.

“The Environmental Law & Policy Center plans on submitting comments to the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Our goal is to ensure coal companies live up to responsibilities for mine reclamation costs and that communities are not saddled with cleanup costs from bankruptcies.”

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