Lawmakers praise AMBLR pilot for jobs and reclamation, raise concerns about perpetual federal reversion

Representative Morgan Griffith told the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee that the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMBLR) pilot program has enabled reclamation and economic reuse of former coal-mine sites and produced jobs and tourism opportunities in economically stressed Appalachian communities.

Griffith said the AMBLR pilot differs from the historical abandoned mine land program because, beyond cleanup, it aims to transition sites to productive economic uses. He cited Project Intersection in Norton, Virginia, as an example, saying it "has created 345 jobs" after removing a high wall and preparing an industrial development park on several hundred acres with rail and electricity access.

Griffith warned that a federal reversionary clause — language in last year’s federal language that could return title to the federal government if recipients do not succeed — had prompted local officials to question whether they would participate. "If the federal government is gonna come back in, if this project doesn't work the way we planned and they can come back in in perpetuity, we're not gonna do it," Griffith said, adding that counties prefer a shorter reversion term. He recommended seven years as a practical compromise and cited a 15‑year period as having some historical legal basis under Virginia adverse‑possession law.

Committee members and witnesses also discussed physical reclamation methods. Griffith described approaches to mitigate hazards from high walls and mine portals: fencing and portal closure that preserves ventilation where methane or airflow is a hazard. He noted emerging private‑sector methane capture at working mines and said he has sought pilot projects to generate power from that methane.

Representative Elzey and other members raised safety concerns about high walls and urged reclamation to prevent accidents; members also discussed agricultural and manure management and biodigester technology as related environmental and local economic topics. No formal committee action occurred at the hearing.