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HR 2050 116th 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: April 3, 2019 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 9, 2019
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Apr 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Apr 3, 2019
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.
Apr 3, 2019
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Appalachian Communities Health Emergency Act or the ACHE Act

This bill requires the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct or support studies on the health impacts of mountaintop-removal coal mining on individuals in the surrounding communities. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), upon receiving the results of these studies, must determine whether such mining presents any health risks to individuals in those communities. The bill applies to surface coal mining that uses blasting with explosives in the steep slope regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.

The bill prohibits specified agencies from issuing permits for any mountaintop-removal coal mining project or expansion unless HHS determines that such mining does not present any health risk to individuals in the surrounding communities. The bill requires monitoring of air, water, and soil for pollution, including noise pollution, until HHS makes its determination. HHS must publish pollution-monitoring results.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement of the Department of the Interior must assess a one-time fee upon existing mining projects, sufficient to cover the federal cost of the studies and pollution monitoring required by the bill.

What's happening now April 9, 2019

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6