Beshear announces more than $74M in funding to clean historic mine sites

FRANKFORT, Ky. – On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Kentucky will receive over $74 million in federal funds to continue cleaning up hazards left by historic mining.

An additional $28.67 million will go to support economic development and job creation in eastern Kentucky, according to the governor’s office.

The over $74 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law award is the third round of 15 years of the funding that will go to the state to rebuild ailing water infrastructure and address water supply issues.

“This program has already done much to protect Kentucky homes and make communities safer,” Beshear said. “The new round of funding will allow us to get to areas that sorely need it.”

With these grants, the governor’s office says the state has begun or completed more than 40 projects in 15 counties totaling almost $45 million. Projects were located in Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Floyd, Harlan, Hopkins, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Ohio, Perry, Pike, Webster and Whitley counties.

Projects that are eligible to receive BIL funding in the state are those impacted by coal mining that ceased prior to May 18, 1982.

Beshear says the state prioritizes projects based on the severity of the hazard. For more information, visit eec.ky.gov.