Biden’s American Jobs Plan Includes 16 Billion for Orphan Well and Abandoned Mine Cleanup
Last month, President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan (the “AJP”). The 2.3 trillion-dollar plan is chock full of non-infrastructure spending, though it does include funding for highways, roads, bridges, ports, airports, and transit systems. There is money for the elimination of all lead pipes and service lines which make up the expansive nationwide drinking water system; money for the U.S. electric grid; and even money for high-speed broadband access. The “plan” for “infrastructure” also includes a $20 billion dollar earmark to “reconnect neighborhoods” and to “…ensure new projects increase opportunity, advance racial equity and environmental justice, and promote affordable access.” We’re not sure this has anything at all to do with infrastructure, but if you would like to read the Biden administration’s version of the spending, please click here: (White House Briefing Room
In addition to the objectives mentioned above, the AJP also includes a $16 billion-dollar earmark for the plugging of orphan oil and gas wells and the cleanup of abandoned mines.
In response to the announcement of the AJP, the National Mining Association issued a statement, which read in part:
“From highways to bridges, water systems to broadband, electricity grids and charging networks – America’s infrastructure projects begin with mining. Despite being home to some of the world’s richest mineral reserves and abundant supplies of steelmaking metallurgical coal, we continue to source the raw materials required for America’s infrastructure and manufacturing from other countries. If policymakers want to create high-paying jobs and support economic security while reshoring the nation’s industrial base, made-in-America infrastructure should begin with American mining.” (See the full statement HERE).
Given that Senate Republicans recently proposed their own $568 billion-dollar infrastructure plan, the political leadership on both sides of the aisle will need to reconcile these competing plans before a final version of either is signed into law.