The goal of the Build Back Better (Appalachian Climate Technology Now) / Sustainable Mine Lands Program is to turn former mine lands into assets. The purpose of this portion of the ACTNow project is to develop recommendations on potential West Virginia policy shifts that would create favorable conditions for Former Mine Lands (FML) to become Sustainable Lands (SL).
States frequently offer economic incentives and non-economic benefits (like expedited permit approval) to encourage companies and other organizations to utilize former mine lands, a subset of brownfields.
In addition, unintentional policy barriers can deter companies and organizations from making the investment necessary to move from an FML to a SL. These non-market barriers can include
Regulations that don’t account for emerging technologies like robotics.
Cultural norms and social values that may favor one technology over another.
Insufficient government support relative to competing environments.
If unrecognized, non-market barriers can be more difficult to overcome than traditional economic barriers because they are deeply embedded in a market's broader social, political, and institutional context.
This study's product will be a policymaker guide that identifies possible policy options and analyzes their effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ease of political acceptability. To develop the content for this guide, West Virginia University graduate and law students have written Science and Technology (S&T) Notes, which are provided below.
These notes bring together the available research and policies enacted or discussed in West Virginia and other Appalachian States. They do not make recommendations but only identify policy options. The notes are intended only for informational purposes and do not indicate support or opposition to a particular bill or policy approach.
We will be conducting roundtables and informal discussions with West Virginia stakeholders to gather their thoughts on the contents of the notes and any other ideas they have for creating favorable policy conditions for FML to become SL
If you have any questions or comments about the notes or would like to host a roundtable discussion with your organization’s stakeholders, please contact Dr. Deborah D. Stine.