H.R. 1146 would authorize states with abandoned mine reclamation plans approved by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to enter into agreements with the federal government aimed at reducing water pollution caused by abandoned mines. The bill also would allow individuals or groups to participate in abandoned mine cleanup projects if states assume liability on behalf of those entities. Under the bill, states and other parties conducting water treatments under those agreements would not be required to meet water quality standards under the Clean Water Act.
For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted late in fiscal year 2022. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO expects that the federal government would need two additional employees at an average annual cost of $140,000 each to manage the agreements and approve projects. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1146 would cost about $1 million over the 2022-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
