HR 5959 112th Congress House Health Air quality Coal Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Environmental health Health information and medical records Health programs administration and funding Kentucky Licensing and registrations Medical research Mining Noise pollution Research administration and funding Tennessee User charges and fees Virginia Water quality West Virginia

ACHE Act

Introduced: June 19, 2012 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 26, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Jun 20, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Jun 19, 2012

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jun 19, 2012

Introduced in House

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Appalachian Communities Health Emergency Act or the ACHE Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct or support comprehensive studies on the health impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining on individuals in the surrounding communities. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), upon receipt of a report on study results, to publish a determination of whether such mining presents any health risks to individuals in those communities. Defines "mountaintop removal coal mining" as surface coal mining that uses blasting with explosives in the steep slope regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Prohibits issuance of an authorization for any mountaintop removal coal mining project (or expansion), under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) or the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, until and unless the Secretary publishes a determination that such mining does not present any health risk to individuals in the surrounding communities. Imposes requirements for continuous monitoring of air, noise, and water pollution and frequent monitoring of soil until a determination by the Secretary is made.

Assesses a one-time fee upon persons that conduct such mining projects, sufficient to cover the federal cost of the health studies and pollution monitoring required by this Act.

What's happening now June 26, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Bill text 1 version