Create a stimulus program to reforest former strip mining sites in Appalachia.

In places like Eastern Kentucky whose economy has been driven by coal mining, old mountaintop removal sites are being reforested by volunteers. Some of these efforts are organized by concerned groups like the Sierra Club. Others by the coal industry. The need is great. What is left after mining has been described as a moonscape. This effort to bring back forest land is important for many reasons-- carbon capture, economic development, tourism, recreation, and job creation to name a few. The existing efforts need a kickstart from federal stimulus to make the mission as impacting and meaningful as possible. This will also help President Obama fulfill his promise to make the environment a high priority in his second term and help create jobs in some of the poorest communities in America.