TRENTON, N.J. — A bill establishing an abandoned mine reclamation program within the New Jersey Department of Transportation advanced Monday from the Assembly Transportation Committee, aiming to address long-standing underground hazards linked to the state’s former iron-mining industry.
The legislation, A6069, would direct the Department of Transportation to identify and map abandoned mines across New Jersey and prioritize the remediation of high-risk sites, particularly those that threaten roadways and public safety. Known mine sites are concentrated in Morris, Sussex, Passaic and Warren counties.
“New Jersey families deserve a transportation system that is safe and reliable, not one that leaves communities vulnerable to preventable failures beneath our roads. The collapse of I-80 earlier this year made that painfully clear,” Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, R-Morris, said in a written statement. “The shutdown disrupted daily life for months, diverted thousands of commuters, slowed emergency response times, hurt small businesses, and cost the state more than $25 million. The economic, safety, and quality-of-life consequences were enormous.”
Under the bill, the reclamation work would be performed at no cost to private landowners and funded through a newly created Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund. The fund would be supported by federal and state dollars, as well as private donations.
The measure follows months of disruption after three sinkholes opened along Interstate 80 in Wharton between December 2024 and March 2025, forcing repeated closures of the highway. The road fully reopened in June after extensive repairs.
Dunn said she worked with state and local officials during the closures to push for timely repairs and supported legislative efforts aimed at assisting businesses and workers affected by the prolonged shutdowns.
“This is not a partisan issue. It is a public safety issue, an economic stability issue, and a responsible-governance issue,” Dunn said. “New Jersey residents expect us to plan ahead, act wisely, and protect the infrastructure they rely on every day.”
According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, nearly 600 abandoned mines have been identified statewide.
