The bill establishes an Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) aimed at protecting citizens from the adverse effects of abandoned mines, such as mine subsidence and water quality degradation. The DEP is tasked with developing a comprehensive State reclamation plan that includes mapping all abandoned mines, identifying the most hazardous mineshafts, ranking reclamation projects, and outlining a recommended course of action for safely reclaiming these sites. The bill also grants DEP employees the right to enter properties for exploratory work necessary to implement the reclamation plan, with provisions for notifying property owners in advance.

Additionally, the bill creates the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund, which will be dedicated to financing mine reclamation projects and supporting the administration of the program. This fund will be sourced from federal grants, state appropriations, and other donations, and will be used to support both DEP-led reclamation efforts and grants to local governments or private landowners for project implementation. The bill mandates that the DEP establish guidelines for grant applications and project eligibility, ensuring a structured approach to funding and executing reclamation efforts.