Ohio to Receive Abandoned Mine Cleanup Funds, But Less Than Expected
Federal grants for abandoned mine cleanup are coming to Ohio, but a $500 million congressional cut means millions fewer dollars for Appalachian communities dealing with contaminated streams and unstable land.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Federal dollars are heading to Ohio to help clean up damage left by historic coal mining operations, but the state will receive less money than originally planned after Congress cut funding from the program earlier this year.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced grants for abandoned mine land cleanup, stemming from an infrastructure law passed in 2021. The 2026 round of grants totals $679 million nationwide — $45 million less than the amount before congressional cuts were made to the program.
Funding Cuts Traced to January Spending Bill
The Ohio River Valley Institute, which tracks the program, said the reduction stems from a January spending bill in which funds originally designated for coal mining cleanup were redirected to other federal programs. The overall cut to the program amounted to $500 million, which the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement said would be “applied equally to the remaining 11 grant distribution years,” at approximately $45.5 million per year.
The institute said those cuts are “equivalent to the cost of stabilizing around 10,000 acres of subsidence, which occurs when land above underground mines caves in.” Ohio stands to lose nearly $3 million as a result of the reductions.
Appalachian Communities Face Continued Wait for Relief
Eric Dixon, a senior researcher for the Ohio River Valley Institute, said the remaining funding preserves what he called “historic investment in cleaning up hazardous coal mine damage” while also supporting job creation and improving health and safety conditions in Appalachian communities.
However, Dixon warned that the congressional reductions will have real consequences for residents. “Unfortunately, the tens of millions in cleanup funding slashed by Congress means more families will have to wait for help with orange-tinted streams or crumbling home foundations,” Dixon said in announcing the funding.
According to the Ohio River Valley Institute, the grants are intended to repair waterways and land damaged by decades of coal extraction activity.
Infrastructure Law Launched Long-Term Cleanup Effort
The 2021 federal infrastructure law set aside approximately $10.9 billion in grant funding nationwide over 15 years to address abandoned mine land reclamation across the country. Ohio and other Appalachian states were among the primary beneficiaries designated under the program.
Despite this year’s reduced allocation, federal officials confirmed that grant distributions will continue moving forward as part of that long-term cleanup framework, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
