this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2023
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West Virginia’s fund to clean up abandoned coal mines is in such dire shape that it threatens to stick taxpayers with hundreds of millions — perhaps even billions — of dollars in cleanup costs. And yet, little is being done to turn things around.

The bankruptcy of just one significant mining company could wipe out the fund, according to the state’s top regulatory official. And auditors for the Republican-controlled Legislature said at least five major companies were “at risk” of dumping cleanup costs on the state.

At $15 million, the state’s fund for restoring land is at its lowest level in more than 20 years. The program’s latest published actuarial report in 2022 warned that a related water cleanup trust fund will lose half its balance over the next 10 years.

These are costs the coal industry was supposed to cover. Unreclaimed mine sites can not only damage the environment but also endanger coalfield residents who live nearby. Coal waste dams sometimes leak or break, flooding downstream communities. Cliffs of rock and debris left behind after mining can collapse. Runoff that isn’t contained or treated often poisons fish or water supplies.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 8 months ago (6 children)

Yep. It's a great racket. Open a mine with huge tax breaks, then don't worry about safety over output and pay fines much lower than any profits you might have made. When the mine is no longer profitable, walk away and leave it up to the taxpayers to figure out what to do about it.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 8 months ago

That's that "Business Innovation" Republicans were talking about back in 2012

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