Filed Senate Resolution 0028

, read first time and referred to Committee on

Introduced

First Regular Session 114th General Assembly (2005)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION requesting the United States Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Land Fund (AML).

Whereas, Abandoned mine lands are a significant health and environmental hazard in southwest Indiana;

Whereas, The AML program eliminates these hazards by cleaning up problems at old mine sites including open mine shafts, orange streams, bad drinking water, and dangerous highwalls;

Whereas, The AML program has greatly benefitted Indiana by cleaning up over 800 abandoned mine sites at a cost of over $88,000,000;

Whereas, Over 400 abandoned mine sites still exist in southwest Indiana, and the estimated cost for cleanup of these abandoned mines is still over $50,000,000; and

Whereas, The AML program will expire June 30, 2005, unless the United States Congress acts to reauthorize the AML fund: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly

of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges the United States Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Land Fund.

SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to

transmit a copy of this Resolution to members of Indiana's congressional delegation.