The presence of large volumes of water in anthracite coal formations involves serious wastage of the fuel resources of the US and constitutes a danger to health, safety and national security. It has therefore been declared as a policy of the Congress to provide for the control and drainage of water in the anthracite coal formations and thereby conserve natural resources, promote national security, prevent injuries and loss of life, and preserve public and private property, and to seal discarded and abandoned coal mines and to fill the voids created in them.
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make financial contributions on the basis of programs or projects approved by the Secretary to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to seal abandoned coal mines and to fill voids in such mines. These are done in the interest of the public health or safety, and for control and drainage of water which, if not so controlled or drained, will cause the flooding of anthracite coal formations. Such contributions are applied to the cost of drainage works, pumping plants, and related facilities. However, the amounts authorized to be contributed by the Secretary of the Interior to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must be equally matched by the Commonwealth.
