AML Administrator Testifies on Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation before U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee recently held a hearing to examine the implementation of federal coal mine land reclamation and abandoned coal mine land economic revitalization programs. Don Newton, Administrator of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality was welcomed to the hearing by Ranking member of the committee, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).

During his testimony before the committee, Newton said the AML program provides real benefits to the state.

Newton also discussed Wyoming’s unique AML program and highlighted the need to run these programs as efficiently as possible, without unnecessary red tape. Aside from Newtown, others who testified at the hearing included witnesses from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.