SENATE BILL: Anthracite Region Investment Act (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

An Act

To increase investment in development and environmental reclamation in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania.

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “Anthracite Region Investment Act".

Section 2. Definitions

As used in Act, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context —
  (1) the term “Anthracite Region” shall mean the following counties in the State of Pennsylvania —
      (a) Carbon;
      (b) Columbia;
      (c) Lackawanna;
      (d) Luzerne;
      (e) Northumberland; and
      (f) Schuylkill;
  (2) the term "qualified purpose" shall mean the following in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania—
      (a) the purchase, and restoration or redevelopment, of abandoned mine land and other approved property;
      (b) the cleanup of waterways and their tributaries, both surface and subsurface;
      (c) financial and technical assistance for infrastructure construction and upgrading;
      (d) any necessary costs for research and development; and
      (e) other related environmental and economic development purposes in such region.

Section 3. Grant program

(a) In general. —

There shall be created a "Anthracite Region Redevelopment Grant Program", which shall be managed under the Environmental Protection Agency.

(b) Purpose. —

The Anthracite Region Redevelopment Grant Program shall —
  (1) receive applications from businesses, other entities, and individuals; and
  (2) determine which proposals for environmental and economic development plans meet —
      (a) the requirements of a qualified purpose; and
      (b) other such aspects as necessary, including, but not limited to —
          (i) feasibility;
          (ii) cost;
          (iii) effectiveness; and
          (iv) any past activities by the applicant(s).

(c) Revocation. —

In the event of any —
  (1) fraud;
  (2) misconduct; or
  (3) other misuse of any grant money received as listed in the signed agreements to receive such grant —
      (a) any such grants received shall be payed back in full; and
      (b) any failure to do so shall result in further civil and criminal penalties.

Section 4. Effective date

This Act shall take effect immediately on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sponsor: Jimmy
Senate Designation: SB24:04

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Sponsor advocacy time.

[Former President tack50]

Why only the state of Pennsylvania? Aren't there many more coal producing counties?

[Esteemed Jimmy]

This is an important bill that will help struggling counties in the state of Pennsylvania Atlasia due to the decline in coal mining and production.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why only the state of Pennsylvania? Aren't there many more coal producing counties?

Anthracite is exclusive to NE PA. It was used in furnaces and steam locomotives and wasn't good for much else. When the furnaces and locomotives went to oil and diesel anthracite mining in the Scranton area died.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Why only the state of Pennsylvania? Aren't there many more coal producing counties?

Anthracite is exclusive to NE PA. It was used in furnaces and steam locomotives and wasn't good for much else. When the furnaces and locomotives went to oil and diesel anthracite mining in the Scranton area died.

Yeah that's basically a good summary.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/106/hr4314/details

This is based off that IRL bill above that was originally sponsored by:

Kanjosrki, Paul [D-PA11]
Gekas, George [R-PA17]
Holden, Tim [D-PA6]
Sherwood, Donald “Don” [R-PA10]
Walsh, James “Jim” [R-NY25]

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why only the state of Pennsylvania? Aren't there many more coal producing counties?

Anthracite is exclusive to NE PA. It was used in furnaces and steam locomotives and wasn't good for much else. When the furnaces and locomotives went to oil and diesel anthracite mining in the Scranton area died.

Yeah that's basically a good summary.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/106/hr4314/details

This is based off that IRL bill above that was originally sponsored by:

Kanjosrki, Paul [D-PA11]
Gekas, George [R-PA17]
Holden, Tim [D-PA6]
Sherwood, Donald “Don” [R-PA10]
Walsh, James “Jim” [R-NY25]

First this bill made me homesick and now it makes me nostalgic for the early 2000s.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Maps of the areas this bill will effect —

Carbon: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Carbon.pdf
Columbia: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Columbia.pdf
Lackawanna: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Lackawanna.pdf
Luzerne: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Luzerne.pdf
Northumberland: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Northumberland.pdf
Schuylkill: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Schuylkill.pdf

[YE]

I've had my disagreements with Jimmy but this isn't one of them.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I've had my disagreements with Jimmy but this isn't one of them.

Odd thing to emphasize, but yea this region has been left behind for decades and it is something that could use a plan to rebuild and invest in the area.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I've had my disagreements with Jimmy but this isn't one of them.

Odd thing to emphasize, but yea this region has been left behind for decades and it is something that could use a plan to rebuild and invest in the area.

Yeah this bill is greatly needed; things have been getting much worse lately.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I'll support this, though I don't really understand why we're only helping the Athracite Region and not other coal-producing regions of Appalachia.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I'll support this, though I don't really understand why we're only helping the Athracite Region and not other coal-producing regions of Appalachia.

Then the question becomes one of structure for such an expanded program.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I'll support this, though I don't really understand why we're only helping the Athracite Region and not other coal-producing regions of Appalachia.

Then the question becomes one of structure for such an expanded program.

I have additional bills that cover this topic area that will be introduced shortly.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Scott are you satisfied with waiting for other bills to address the rest of the region?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Scott are you satisfied with waiting for other bills to address the rest of the region?

Yes, I'd be fine with that.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

In that case, I motion for a final vote, Senators have 24 hours to object.


Gonna need more bills introduced. We got three coming off the noticeboard in the next couple days.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

No objections. More bills will be coming.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A final vote is now open on this legislation, Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[Former President tack50]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Votes to pass, 24 hours to change votes.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Glad to see this important bill will pass.