If the U.S. Congress approves it, all surface mine permits would be put on hold until the Department of Health and Human Services can study the health effects.
But some are skeptical it will pass.
"This is a controversial bill, and election year coming up, it's probably pretty unlikely that this is going to make it too far in Congress," said Taylor Kuykendall, of The State Journal. "Although it may provide a talking point to maybe get a conversation about mountaintop removal in Appalachia started."
According to some who live and work in the region, the bill's a job killer.
"Since UBB the regulations have really come down pretty hard. Personally, I've seen people where I work take the extra precaution to prevent something like that," said Zach Peters, a coal miner in Southern West Virginia.
Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, helped craft the legislation. Supporters said they believe the land and peoples health are linked.
Bill Raney with The West Virginia Coal Association disagrees.
"Many people feel like the best thing you can do in West Virginia, and I suspect across the country, is to have a good paying job," he said. "So you can stay take care of your family and stay where you want to be. Then here's this guy in Ohio that lost the election that wants to come in and stop all of these operations until a bunch of studies are done."
It's a sentiment repeated by many in southern West Virginia.
"Mining is generational, it appears to be, and it would be a travesty to see generational successes and economic successes go down the drain," said Cindy Bagwell, a resident in the area.
Both sides agree that health and economy hang in the balance.
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