Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Program (15.252)
Program
15.252 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Program
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Authorization
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, 91 Stat. 445-532.
Program Number
15.252
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To protect the public and correct the environmental damage caused by coal and noncoal mining practices that occurred prior to August 3, 1977.
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants; Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
State/Indian Reclamation Program (SIRP) (Project Grants): Project grants are restricted to lands and water mined or affected by mining processes that occurred prior to August 3, 1977, (and certain post-1977 lands and waters beginning 10/1/91) and are defined as "eligible lands." Eligible lands include coal mining and related processes as well as noncoal mining and related processes. A State with an approved regulatory program, eligible lands and active coal mining operations contributing to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund may submit a State reclamation plan to the Office of Surface Mining for approval. (Note: For Indian tribes, regulatory program approval is not a condition of participation in the reclamation program.) Subsidence Insurance Program Grants: The subsidence insurance program grant, which is limited to $3 million, provides funds to establish, administer, and operate a self-sustaining, individual State-administered program to insure private property against damages caused by land subsidence resulting from underground coal mining.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State/Indian Reclamation Program Project Grants: The program is restricted to States/Indian Tribes with eligible lands and with coal mining operations within their borders that are paying coal reclamation fees into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State/Indian Reclamation Program: States and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
Credentials/Documentation
State Reclamation Program: A State/Indian reclamation plan requires the approval of the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. All grants require the approval of the appropriate Field Office Director.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication information is not required. The procedures of the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program Regulations that were published in the Federal Register, Volume 47, Number 126, Wednesday, June 30, 1982 must be followed. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
State/Indian Reclamation Program: The standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be used for this program. Please contact the appropriate Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Regional/Field Office for details. Grant applications covering all AML programs/activities are to be submitted to the applicable OSM Regional/Field Office annually.
Award Procedure
State/Indian Reclamation Program: The Regional/Field Office shall act upon a grant application within 60 days of submittal of a complete application. If the application is not approved, the Regional/Field Office shall set forth in writing the reasons for disapproval and may propose modifications if appropriate. The State/Indian tribal agency may submit the application or appropriate revised portions of the application.
Deadlines
State/Indian Reclamation Program: Grant application may be submitted at any time to the applicable OSM Regional/Field Office.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
State/Indian Reclamation Program: A State/Tribe may appeal the OSM's decision to reduce or terminate a grant to the Secretary, DOI, no later than 30 days after the Field Office Director made the decision.
Renewals
State/Indian Reclamation Program: The grant application is submitted on an annual basis.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
State/Indian Reclamation Program: Grants are 100 percent Federally funded based on fifty percent of the reclamation fees collected in a State subject to congressional appropriation. The formula is based on historical coal production and annual fee collections. However, States/Tribes may be granted additional funds for emergency and other high priority abandoned mine land reclamation projects.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
State/Indian Reclamation Program: Grant periods are variable; however, under normal conditions, funds for construction activities must be expended 3 years after award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
State/Indian Reclamation Program (Project Grants): Annual performance and financial reports are required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Records will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments."
Program Accomplishments
State Reclamation Program: 23 States and three Indian tribes have received approval for their reclamation programs and are carrying out reclamation projects.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-5015-0-2-302.
Obligations
State/Indian Reclamation (Project Grants) FY 02 $163,255,887; FY 03 est $158,546,721; and FY 04 est $159,600,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
State/Indian Reclamation Program: $94,000 to $103,711; $6,600,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Federal Register Vol.48, No. 115, Tuesday, June 14, 1983; Abandoned Mined Lands Operational Manual, Vol. One, February 1984; Vol. Two, July 20, 1984. Guidelines for Reclamation Programs and Projects, Federal Register Vol. 61, No.257, Monday, December 30, 1996.
Related Programs
15.250, Regulation of Surface Coal Mining and Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.
Headquarters Office
Office of Surface Mining, Division of Reclamation Support, Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20240. Contact: Chief, Division of Reclamation Support. Telephone: (202) 208-5365. Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
State/Indian Reclamation Program (Project Grants): Reclaiming gob piles, tipples, landslides, and mine openings, impoundments, highwalls, extinguishing mine fires and burning refuse banks. Mine subsidence (emergency and extreme dangers), mine openings, underground mine fires, burning refuse banks, flooding dangers, acid mine drainage, and dangerous impoundments.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Section 403 of Public Law 95-87, cited Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program regulation, and approved State/Indian Reclamation plans.
