With federal funds in limbo, Iowa pauses abandoned mine program

Catch up quick: Iowa has thousands of acres of abandoned mines, mostly from coal production that ended more than a century ago.

• The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has operated a reclamation program for more than 40 years that's cleaned up about 120 sites using more than $100 million of federal funds.
• Reclaimed land is frequently turned into prairies or pasture grounds.

State of play: Iowa announced seven mine reclamation projects last year and nearly 20 more in design and planning phases.

• Roughly 140 sites are still awaiting reclamation in future years, primarily in Davis, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Van Buren and Wapello counties.

Driving the news: The Trump administration directed agencies in late January to suspend federal grants while efficiency reviews are underway.

State of play: Payments for work that was already completed has been submitted for reimbursement, but state ag department spokesperson Don McDowell tells Axios reclamation work will not resume until state officials confirm that federal grants are available.