Press Release

Date: May 17, 2022
  Contact: news@osmre.gov (202) 208-2565

Grants to fund projects with a nexus to economic development

WASHINGTON –The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced today $122.5 million in fiscal year 2022 funding for Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grants. The six Appalachian states with the highest number of unfunded high priority abandoned mine land problems and three Tribes with approved AML programs are eligible for the grants.

Established in 2016, the AMLER program funds projects that return legacy coal mining sites to productive uses through economic and community development. High priority abandoned mine land problems pose an immediate threat to health, safety, and the general welfare of communities. Abandoned mine land problems include clogged streams/stream lands, dangerous piles or embankments, dangerous highwall, underground mine fire and polluted water.

“Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grants offer opportunities for economic revitalization, community development and the creation of good-paying jobs to some of the hardest hit communities across America,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Laura Daniel-Davis. “The grants address long-standing hazards and environmental degradation in coal communities to provide clean, livable surroundings to the families who have helped power our nation.”

The AMLER program is also a pilot program for the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which commits to delivering 40 percent of the benefits of certain climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.

In 2022, AMLER funds have been allocated to the states and Tribes as follows: Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are each allocated $26.63 million; Alabama, Ohio and Virginia are each allocated $10.652 million; and the Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation are each allocated $3.551 million. States and Tribes will continue to work with local partners to identify projects that will bring the most environmental and economic benefits to their communities.

This year, nearly $1 billion has been invested in coal communities. AMLER funds supplement nearly $725 million in fiscal year 2022 funding available to 22 states and the Navajo Nation to reclaim abandoned mine lands as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In addition, $144 million in fiscal year 2022 funding was made available through the traditional AML grant program.

For more information about the AMLER Program and the grants process, please visit https://www.osmre.gov/programs/reclaiming-abandoned-mine-lands/amler.

– OSMRE –

The OSMRE carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in cooperation with states and Tribes. OSMRE’s objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use after mining, and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.

Date: March 29, 2022
  Contact: news@osmre.gov (202) 208-2565

WASHINGTON — The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is soliciting nominations for the 2022 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards through June 17. These awards are the highest honor given to coal mining companies with exemplary coal mine reclamation in the United States.

Since 1986, OSMRE has presented National and Good Neighbor awards annually to coal mining companies. National awards recognize achievement in a specific aspect of reclamation or for overall performance in meeting goals of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Good Neighbor awards are given to mine operators for successfully working with the surrounding landowners and the community while completing mining and reclamation work. This awards program is designed to help state and federal regulators transfer knowledge and information on outstanding reclamation methods and techniques from award-winning operations to other coal mine operators who engage in mining under SMCRA.

Surface coal mining and reclamation operations conducted under a Title V permit (1978-present) may be nominated for an award. In addition, non-permitted mining and reclamation activities that were completed using government financed reclamation contracts under enhanced abandoned mine land regulations are also eligible for nomination. Abandoned mine land reclamation projects are not eligible for a National award unless they are integrated into Title V permitted operations. 

Coal companies, regulatory authorities, state or federal mine inspectors, interest groups or landowners may submit nominations. Company officials and employees may nominate their own operations. View previous Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards winners.

For more information about the awards program and to learn how to submit a nomination application, visit www.osmre.gov/active-awards. Submit questions about the awards program to Judith LaVoie, public affairs specialist, at awards@osmre.gov.

– OSMRE –

OSMRE carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in cooperation with states and Tribes. OSMRE’s objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use after mining and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.

Date: Monday, March 28, 2022
Contact: news@osmre.gov

WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2023. The President’s Budget details his vision to expand on the historic progress our country has made over the last year and deliver the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address—to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out. 

The President’s budget for fiscal year 2023 includes $271.2 million for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, which features $115 million to address coal mine reclamation and economic development efforts, complementing the historic investments being made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58).

The Budget makes critical investments in the American people that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come. The President’s budget makes investments that will help to address the climate crisis while creating good-paying jobs with a free and fair chance to join a union, and investing in healthy lands, waters, and economies of energy communities across the country.

“President Biden has proposed an important blueprint for our country’s future that reflects the importance of science, equity and collaboration in carrying out Interior’s important missions,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “These resources, coupled with the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help the Department make critical investments in climate resiliency while creating good-paying union jobs in the clean energy economy, ensuring Tribal communities have the resources and support they need, and conserving and protecting wildlife and their habitats for future generations. Together, we can ensure that every community has a stake in our efforts to build a better America.”

“OSMRE’s programs protect the public and the environment from hazards that were left by legacy coal mining and encourages the economic revitalization of communities,” said Laura Daniel-Davis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. “The fiscal year 2023 budget will help communities who have lost coal mining jobs and are dealing with negative environmental and economic impacts to this day.”

At the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the President’s budget would:

• Revitalize Coal Mine Communities. The budget includes $115 million for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grants program, supporting abandoned coal mine reclamation projects that have a nexus to local economic development and to the creation of good-paying jobs. AMLER grants are distributed to six Appalachian states and three Tribes with the highest number of unfunded Priority 1 and Priority 2 abandoned mine land problems.

• Clean Streams. The budget proposes roughly $2 million to work with not-for-profit organizations, especially small local watershed organizations, to undertake projects to clean streams affected by acid-mine drainage. These projects improve land and water resources, promoting healthy fish and wildlife habitat and recreational use.

• Combat the Climate Crisis. The budget proposes $1.2 million in funding towards the transition to zero emission vehicles that will reduce transportation-related emissions and further combat the climate crisis.

• Give Emergency Relief. The budget includes $785,000 to address unforeseen federal emergency reclamation projects, providing immediate relief from emerging hazards in states and on Indian lands without an approved AML program.

The Budget makes these smart investments while also reducing deficits and improving our country’s long-term fiscal outlook.

For more information on the President’s FY 2023 Budget, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/.

 – OSMRE –

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in cooperation with States and Tribes. OSMRE’s objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use after mining, and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.