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Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program

Congress has appropriated funding for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program (previously known as the AML Pilot Program) on an annual basis since Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The intent of the program is to explore and implement strategies that return legacy coal mining sites to productive uses through economic and community development. The AMLER Program supports local investment opportunities that provide for sustainable long-term rehabilitation of coalfield economies. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) administers the AMLER Program and provides eligible states and Tribes with AMLER grants and guidance on project eligibility criteria and reporting requirements.

AMLER Funding

Consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328), OSMRE has notified eligible states and Tribes that FY 2023 AMLER funding is available. The FY 2023 AMLER Program will provide grants to the six Appalachian states with the highest amount of unfunded Priority 1 and Priority 2 AML sites based on OSMRE AML inventory data as of September 30, 2022 and the three tribes with AML Programs. Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are each allocated $29.347 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia are each allocated $11.739 million; while the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and Crow Tribe are each allocated $3.913 million.

Appropriated AMLER Funding (Millions of Dollars)

 

This is a bar chart with the AMLER funds appropriated for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 through FY 2023. For FY 2016, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $30 million for a total of $90 million. For FY 2017, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $25 million and Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $10 million for a total of $105 million. For FY 2018, 2019, and 2020, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $25 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $10 million; and the Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.33 million for a total of $115 million each fiscal year. For FY 2021, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $25 million; Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia were each appropriated $10 million; and the Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.33 million for a total of $115 million. For FY 2022, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $26.63 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $10.652 million; and the Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.551 million for a total of $122.5 million. For FY 2023, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $29.347 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $11.739 million; and the Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.913 million for a total of $135 million.

General AMLER Process

Step 1: Congress announces annual AMLER funding as part of annual Appropriation Law. Step 2: OSMRE informs eligible states/tribes that they will receive AMLER funds and allocations are made to each state/tribe. Step 3: State/Tribe work with partners to compile, assess, and select potential projects to submit to OSMRE for vetting. Step 4: OSMRE reviews projects submitted by state/tribe to determine eligibility criteria are met in accordance with OSMRE's Guidance Document. Step 5: OSMRE issues preliminary approval. Step 6: State/Tribe gathers environmental information and works with OSMRE to complete a NEPA analysis for each project. Step 7: OSMRE reviews environmental information and issues a NEPA decision document (ROD or FONSI) for each project. Step 8: State/Tribe submits a request for OSMRE’s Authorization to Proceed (ATP) for each project. Step 9: OSMRE reviews ATP request and issues ATP approval for each project. Step 10: State/Tribe spends AMLER funds on construction. Step 11: State/Tribe reports on performance measures for Annual AMLER Report. Step 12: AMLER project completed. Note: The reporting of performance measures by the states/tribes for the Annual AMLER Report (Step 11), also continues after the project is completed (Step 12).

Guidance on Project Eligibility

View the Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program for FY 2023. This document provides an overview of AMLER and eligibility requirements for AMLER projects. It also includes information regarding real property and reporting requirements that apply to AMLER projects from all fiscal years.

Submission of Project Applications

AMLER project applications are submitted to state/Tribal AML Programs. For more information, see the links below.

Alabama Kentucky Ohio
Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia
Crow Tribe Hopi Tribe Navajo Nation

 

Status of the AMLER Program and Projects

Refer to the report on the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program/AML Pilot Program for FY 2016 – FY 2019 for information on the status of the program and specific projects.

AMLER Project Status

    Archived Documents

    The most recent Guidance Document (FY 2023) and the most recent AMLER Report (FY 2016-2019) also apply to all previous years of the AMLER Program. However, previous versions of these documents are linked below for historical context.

    AMLER Guidance:

    AMLER Reports: 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Yes, reference to the "Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Economic Development Pilot Program" (AML Pilot Program) changed to the "Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program" (AMLER Program) in March 2021 to realign with the language in the appropriation law (P.L. 116-260 - pages 308-309). The AMLER name refers to all years of the program (first funded in FY 2016). For continuity with older documents (e.g. reports and guidance documents prior to FY 2021), reference to AMLER will include context that it is also known as the AML Pilot Program.

    Funding is allocated by Congress in the annual appropriations law (e.g. P.L. 117-328 - pages 313). Your state/Tribal AML program will announce when applications can be submitted.