WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Reps. Don Sherwood (PA-10th District), Paul Kanjorski (PA-11th), Tim Holden (PA-6th) and George Gekas (PA-17th) have secured a special $12 million appropriation for Pennsylvania's anthracite region to undertake environmental cleanup projects related to mining -- which will double the amount of federal money normally available for environmental projects in the region.

The special funding is in response to the bipartisan Congressional coalition's efforts to find ways to address the region's environmental needs. Congressman Sherwood, a member of the House Resources Committee, helped to arrange a field hearing in Scranton for the Committee to learn about the region's environmental issues and to discuss an initiative introduced by Congressman Kanjorski and cosponsored by Congressmen Holden, Gekas and Sherwood to create a new, long-term bond program to provide cleanup funding.

The $12 million is included in the House-Senate final version of the year 2001 Interior appropriations bill passed by the House today. The $12 million will be provided to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to start to address the large backlog of abandoned mine reclamation projects and acid mine remediation activities in the anthracite region. This is in addition to the approximately $10 million allocated to the region annually through the federal Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program.

"This will help us begin to tackle the mine-related cleanup projects which have been on hold due to lack of funding," said Congressman Sherwood. "This is a great first step in making a real difference for our environment. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress toward a long-term solution. But in the meantime, we will be able to begin taking action now on projects that need to get done."

Congressman Kanjorski said, "It is essential for further economic development in Northeastern Pennsylvania that we address the environmental degradation from past anthracite mining practices. I am pleased to join a bipartisan coalition of my colleagues who represent the eastern coal fields of Pennsylvania to begin this march for land reclamation, water purification and new economic development in our region."

Congressman Holden stated, "This funding is vitally important to Northeastern Pennsylvania. Abandoned mine sites are often located in the most economically depressed areas in our communities, making it nearly impossible for these communities to compete for industry and tourism. In addition, abandoned mine sites severe environmental problems from acid mine run-off. The special $12 million appropriation is a positive step towards a long term solution."

Congressman Gekas said, "It is heartening to see our quest to clean up the anthracite region come to fruition. This appropriation will not only aid the environment, but will in turn give much needed structure to the economic viability of the region. This is truly a benefit for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

The Commonwealth has identified important mine-related environmental projects totaling nearly $2 billion in the 3,000-square-mile anthracite region of Eastern Pennsylvania. However, the Commonwealth receives a total of about $27 million annually from the federal Abandoned Mine Lands program, with about $10 million going to projects in the anthracite region.

Congressman Kanjorski has introduced the Anthracite Region Redevelopment Act (H.R. 4314), co-sponsored by Congressmen Sherwood, Holden and Gekas, to create a new bond program that would provide $1.2 billion in 30-year tax-free bonds to finance a comprehensive environmental cleanup of the region.