US Congress House Bill 5959 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 27-0)
Status: Introduced on June 19 2012 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2012-06-26 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

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.

ACHE Act

Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]	Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR]	Rep. Judy Chu [D-CA]	Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]	Rep. Donna Edwards [D-MD]	Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]	Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]
Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]	Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]	Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]	Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]	Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]	Rep. Jerry McNerney [D-CA]	Rep. James Moran [D-VA]
Rep. John Olver [D-MA]	Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]	Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO]	Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA]
Rep. John Sarbanes [D-MD]	Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]	Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA]	Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA]	Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]	Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY]

Date	Chamber	Action
2012-06-26	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
2012-06-20	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
2012-06-19	House	Referred to House Energy and Commerce
2012-06-19	House	Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
2012-06-19	House	Referred to House Natural Resources
2012-06-19	House	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.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5959/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr5959/BILLS-112hr5959ih.pdf