Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands (15.038)
Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands (Assistance Listing 15.038) is run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $19.3 million in 58 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $332,301 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $200,000. Half of the 58 awards fell between $153,250 and $328,998, and they ranged from $14,477 to $2.5 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$19.3 million
- Grant awards58
- Typical award$200,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$8.5 million
- Size rank1,329 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceDirect payments for specified use, provision of specialized services, dissemination of technical information
Key findings
- It is the 1329th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 79% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 17 states and territories.
What the program funds
The objectives of the Energy and Mineral Development Program are to: (1) provide funds to Tribes to perform technical evaluations of the energy (both renewable and conventional) and mineral resource potential of Indian reservations; (2) provide Tribes with geological, geophysical and engineering reports, maps, and other data concerning their energy and mineral resources; (3) provide Tribes technical assistance on using and interpreting assessment information so that Tribes can understand and plan for the potential development of these resources; and (4) provide Tribes with an outreach vehicle to promote their lands and resources to potential partners if they so desire. Those projects that fell into economic development categories will be considered for funding through the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Past notices
Of 3 notices posted under this program since 2021, most went up in January (1), May (1) and July (1).
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Individual American Indian mineral owners.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Minerals and Mining: Funding may be used to facilitate the inventory, assessment, promotion and marketing of both renewable and nonrenewable energy and mineral resources on Indian lands. Energy and Mineral Assessments: Funds are awarded competitively to support assessment and inventory programs and/or develop baseline data, but cannot be used for development purposes.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Minerals and Mining: Currently not contracted by any of the tribal governments. Mineral Assessments range is $10,000 to $250,000; average $75,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Combined heat and power feasibility study, residential energy assessment, geothermal energy generation assessment, helium resource assessment, oil and gas resource exploration, waste heat generation project, microgrid and natural gas feasibility study, energy feasibility for industrial hub, mineral exploration program, industrial mineral development, Aggregate resource assessment, geothermal resource assessment, 3D seismic study, techno-economic evaluation of nuclear feedstock, horizontal well targeting in oil bearing formations, microgrid feasibility study, energy development feasibility study.Fiscal Year2026: Combined heat and power feasibility study, residential energy assessment, geothermal energy generation assessment, helium resource assessment, oil and gas resource exploration, waste heat generation project, microgrid and natural gas feasibility study, energy feasibility for industrial hub, mineral exploration program, industrial mineral development, Aggregate resource assessment, geothermal resource assessment, 3D seismic study, techno-economic evaluation of nuclear feedstock, horizontal well targeting in oil bearing formations, microgrid feasibility study, energy development feasibility study.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands (15.038) awarded $19.3 million across 58 grant awards, an average of $332,301 per award.
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to tribes.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal governments and organizations | 58 | $19.3 million | 100% |
By state
5 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Alaska, California, Montana, Wyoming and Oklahoma.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 11 | $7.3 million |
| California | 12 | $3.1 million |
| Montana | 4 | $2.2 million |
| Wyoming | 2 | $1.5 million |
| Oklahoma | 5 | $1.0 million |
| Michigan | 4 | $762,925 |
| Utah | 1 | $706,000 |
| Arizona | 2 | $490,015 |
| Minnesota | 3 | $392,568 |
| North Dakota | 2 | $340,000 |
| Washington | 1 | $339,781 |
| South Dakota | 2 | $325,200 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $259,605 |
| Nevada | 1 | $175,000 |
| Colorado | 1 | $149,125 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $145,000 |
| New Mexico | 4 | $88,440 |