ACHE Act
Bill journey · stage 1 of 5
Just introduced
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Apr 3, 2019)
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 just happenedApr 9, 2019
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseApr 3, 2019
- Apr 9, 2019Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee - Apr 4, 2019Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Health Subcommittee - Apr 4, 2019Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee - Apr 4, 2019Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee - Apr 3, 2019IntroReferralH11100
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.
Energy and Commerce Committee - Apr 3, 2019IntroReferralH11100
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.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - Apr 3, 2019IntroReferralH11100
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.
Natural Resources Committee - Apr 3, 2019IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Apr 3, 2019IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House