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HR 8614118th CongressFailed / ExpiredHouse

To authorize the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to carry out a study to examine the potential relationship between increased health risks and living in proximity to sites that have been or are being mined for surface coal deposits, and the potential human health effects of surface coal mining operations in Central Appalachia, and for other purposes.

Policy Area: Energy
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
House
Last Updated
Sep 10, 2024
Latest Action Date
Jun 4, 2024

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

This bill, introduced in the 118th Congress as H.R. 8614, seeks to authorize the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the potential health risks associated with living near surface coal mining sites, specifically focusing on Central Appalachia. The study aims to examine the relationship between increased health risks and proximity to these mining operations, as well as the broader human health effects of surface coal mining in the region. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources but ultimately failed or expired without further action.

Bottom Line

H.R. 8614 proposed a federally authorized study on health impacts of surface coal mining in Central Appalachia but did not advance beyond committee referral and expired.

Policy Risk Level
🟢 Low
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • Authorizes the National Academies to study potential health risks linked to living near surface coal mining sites.
  • Focuses specifically on Central Appalachia, a region with extensive surface coal mining activity.
  • The bill did not include appropriations or detailed implementation provisions and expired after referral to committee.
Who Benefits?

['National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (study authority)', 'Residents of Central Appalachia potentially affected by surface coal mining', 'Public health researchers and policymakers interested in mining-related health impacts']

Potential Concerns

['The bill does not specify funding sources or appropriations for the study, which may affect feasibility.', 'Lack of detailed implementation or oversight mechanisms could limit accountability or follow-up actions.', "The study's scope is limited to Central Appalachia, potentially excluding other affected regions."]

Political Context

The bill was introduced in the House during the 118th Congress and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. It addresses ongoing concerns about environmental and health impacts of surface coal mining, particularly in Central Appalachia, a region historically affected by coal mining activities. The bill did not progress beyond committee referral and expired, indicating limited legislative momentum.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['The study could inform future regulatory or health policy decisions related to surface coal mining.', 'Findings may influence public awareness and community advocacy regarding mining-related health risks.', 'Potentially increased demand for health monitoring or environmental remediation in affected areas.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

Transparency considerations include the absence of detailed funding and oversight provisions, which may impact the study's execution and public accountability. The bill's failure to advance limits current transparency on how the study would be managed or disseminated. Monitoring any future related legislation or appropriations will be important for oversight.

Passage Likelihood: LowConfidence: 85%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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