Federal grant programs / Department of the Interior

Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) (15.252)

Also known as Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AML)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.3 billion
• Grant awards229
• Typical award$4.6 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$888 million
• Size rank119 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants, project grants

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $204 million in fiscal 2021 to $888 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 119th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 99% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 24 states and territories.

What the program funds

The objectives of the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program are defined in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the protection of public health, safety, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices; the restoration of land and water resources and the environment that have been degraded by the adverse effects of coal mining practices, the protection of public health and safety from adverse effects of coal mining practices, the restoration of land and water resources and the environment that have been degraded by the adverse effects of coal mining practices and emergency restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of adverse effects of coal mining practices, on eligible lands.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

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.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

The AML program is restricted to States with an approved coal mining regulatory program, lands eligible for reclamation, and active coal mining operations within their borders that are paying coal reclamation fees into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund; and to federally recognized Tribes with eligible lands, and active mining operations paying fees into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Environment (water, air, solid waste, pesticides, radiation), Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land). The regional office must act upon a grant application within 60 days of submittal of a complete application (An exception is for certified States that submit AML grant applications in which OSM must complete its review within 30 days). All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the notice of funding opportunity, program regulations and statutes. All timely submitted and qualified proposals are reviewed by an OSM program and financial assistance official. The OSM Field Directors or designee approves and awards cooperative agreements for this program. If the application is not approved, the regional office will provide the reasons for disapproval in writing. All approved grants will be awarded using GrantSolutions and recipient payments will be made using the Automated Standard Applications for Payments (ASAP) system. AML: Restrictions can be referenced in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, as amended, 91 Stat. 445-532, and Public Law 116-6 and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260). AMLER: Use restrictions are outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260) IIJA: Use restrictions are outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Public Law 117-58, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Title 30: Mineral Resources, Part Part 870, Subpart § 870.14,Public Law Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, as amended, 91 Stat. 445-532..870.14 Determination of percentage-based fees. (a) If you pay a fee based on a percentage of the value of coal, you must include documentation supporting the claimed coal value with your fee payment and production report. We may review this information and any additional documentation we may require, including examination of your books and records. We may accept the valuation you claim, or we may determine another value of the coal. (b) If we determine that a higher fee must be paid, you must pay the additional fee together with interest computed under § 870.21.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Sep 30, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026 Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Award range and average, in the agency's words

The estimated range of financial assistance is: AML: $9,000 to $25,000,000; AMLER: $3,667,000 to $28,666,667; IIJA-AML: $1,300,000 to $245,000,000 The estimated average award amount is $11,000,000.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: AML Program: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and OSM worked cooperatively to reclaim water and land that coal mine operators had abandoned before 1977. The PADEP completed 99 AML projects for 329 acres of land reclamation, including successfully resolved AML features related to mine fires, mine subsidence, dangerous highwalls, open mine shafts and portals, and mining-impacted water supplies. PADEP used funds to operate and maintain 50 passive treatment facilities and nine active treatment plants constructed by PADEP BAMR successfully abate AML emergencies and reclaim Priority 1, 2 and 3 hazards.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 98% of the money, tribes 0.5%.

By state

23 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.