 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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Congressional watchdog to probe idled 'zombie' coal mines |
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will investigate the environmental impact of idled "zombie" coal mines in response to an October request from several congressional Democrats, a GAO spokesperson confirmed. |
In October, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and seven House Democrats wrote to the GAO to ask for a probe into such mines, which often qualify as active under the law while remaining unused for years and going without maintenance or scrutiny, potentially leaving the surrounding area vulnerable to leaks and other environmental hazards. In an email to The Hill, a GAO spokesperson said it will act on the request, with a projected start date of March or April. The spokesperson added that the GAO cannot yet speak to the completion date — which it says hinges on what information agency officials allow access to — but said such investigations are typically finished within 14 months. The Appalachian Citizens' Law Center (ACLC), which has advocated for an investigation into the impacts of idled mines, praised the GAO announcement. "We're very pleased that Congress has recognized that there are many weaknesses in the coal mine reclamation and bonding system and this GAO study is an important step in helping us further quantify the issues that we're experiencing," ACLC Policy Director Rebecca Shelton told The Hill in an email. Read more in a full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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Winters are warming despite bouts of snow, freezing rain and bitter temperatures that recently swept through the northern United States. |
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The fate of California's coast may hinge upon the outcome of a contentious ongoing lawsuit in which a small group of homeowners is battling to build a sea wall that the state has refused to approve. |
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The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast larger oil demand in 2024 than previously projected in its monthly market report Thursday. |
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Branch out with a different read on The Hill: |
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The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) new "climate disclosure" rule was the latest flashpoint in the GOP's battle against government overreach in a House hearing Thursday. |
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
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Carbon released by bottom trawling 'too big to ignore', says study (The Guardian)
As power demand soared, Texas solar set a record as grid passed its latest wintertime test (The San Antonio Express-News) California Farms Dried Up a River for Months. Nobody Stopped Them. (The New York Times) Washington can't get a climate pact. Gavin Newsom just cut another one. (Politico)
- Air pollution may be to blame for thousands of dementia cases each year, researchers say (CBS News)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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The House approved a short-term spending bill Thursday to keep the government funded through March, sending the stopgap to President Biden's desk for his signature one day before a partial shutdown deadline. Read more |
| A federal judge will require special counsel Jack Smith to seek permission before making any additional filings in former President Trump's case for election interference, a small victory for the former president as the court otherwise declined to advance a filing designed to hold prosecutors in contempt. Read more |
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Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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