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Committee amends bill to align abandoned‑mine reclamation with federal rules, votes to advance
Summary
Senate Bill 21‑17 was amended to incorporate technical corrections and to align North Dakota's abandoned mine lands program with federal Office of Surface Mining rules and new BIL funding allowances; the committee voted to pass the bill as amended.
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted technical corrections and voted to advance Senate Bill 21‑17 on Thursday, after testimony from Public Service Commissioner Randy Christman and staff describing how the state’s abandoned mine lands (AML) program works with federal rules and recent federal funding changes.
Randy Christman identified himself for the record and told the committee the AML grant is federally funded and that bipartisan federal infrastructure legislation (referred to as BIL in testimony) expanded program eligibility and funding. "We get a grant each year to do projects to fix up these old abandoned mines," Christman said, adding the federal program aims at dangerous sites, including collapsing underground workings that can threaten roads and structures.
Committee staff reviewed an amendment (version 02/2001). Representative Novak moved adoption of the amendment; the committee voted to adopt it by voice. Representative Novak then moved a do‑pass recommendation for Senate Bill 21‑17 as amended; Representative Olson seconded the motion. The roll call for the due‑pass recommendation showed unanimous support among members present and the motion carried.
Christman told the committee the AML program addresses hundreds of sites and that the program focuses on the most dangerous locations; he stressed the need for state law to match federal program requirements so funds can be used as intended.
The committee’s action was procedural: adopting technical corrections and forwarding the amended bill with a do‑pass recommendation for further legislative consideration.
