Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today participated in the announcement that $1.5 million had been awarded to the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine as part of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Pilot Program. Congressman Griffith has worked diligently to obtain funding for the program. He issued the following statement:

“Plenty of communities throughout Southwest Virginia coal country have abandoned mine lands that must be cleaned up and improved before they can be used to their fullest potential. Today’s announcement shows how these Abandoned Mine Land Pilot Program funds can be put to good use. With money from the program, the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine will be improved for future use and enjoyment by Southwest Virginia residents and tourists, bringing important economic development to the region. I look forward to the opportunities created in Pocahontas and elsewhere through this vital program.”

Background

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement along with their state partner, the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, manage the Abandoned Mine Land Pilot Program and review grant applications. These grants are awarded to local communities that wish to explore economic development opportunities while implementing strategies to return legacy coal sites to productive uses. Congressman Griffith has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the Abandoned Mine Land Pilot Program includes Virginia and brings crucial funding to projects in the coalfields of the Commonwealth.

Click here to read the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy’s news release.

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