TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee has advanced legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) to create an Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program within the Department of Transportation (DOT) aimed at protecting residents from the dangers of abandoned mines across the state.
The measure, Senate Bill 4833, directs the DOT to develop and implement a statewide plan to identify, stabilize, and reclaim abandoned mines that pose risks such as ground subsidence and water contamination.
“The I-80 sinkhole disaster showed just how quickly a single infrastructure failure can severely disrupt commuting, commerce, and daily life,” Bucco said. “It is essential to restore and improve the structural foundation that led to this crisis and the ‘Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program’ will take a proactive approach to identify the most serious risks, reclaim abandoned mines safely, and protect both our roads and our communities from future emergencies.”
Under the bill, the DOT would be responsible for prioritizing and executing mine reclamation projects either directly, through private contractors, or by providing grants to local governments or property owners. The department would also be required to notify property owners before entering land to conduct reclamation work and to make reasonable accommodations regarding access and timing.
The legislation establishes an “Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund” to receive state and federal funds, along with other monies dedicated to mine reclamation efforts.
Committee members voted unanimously to release the bill, sending it to the full Senate for further consideration.
