The US government will no longer pay states for old mining cleanup funds

The US Interior Department is getting rid of rules for special funds that were supposed to pay for cleaning up old mines. These funds were promised to states and tribes before 2007 but Congress never actually sent the money.

For years, states and tribes were waiting for money that was allocated but never appropriated by Congress. This rule change officially closes the door on those specific funds. It means that any plans or budgets that relied on these particular 'prior balance replacement funds' will now have to find other sources.