FY26 Bureau of Land Management Abandoned Mine Lands and Hazardous Materials - Bureau wide

The Bureau of Land Management, a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers this funding opportunity to address environmental and public safety risks associated with abandoned mine lands and hazardous materials. The agency manages extensive public lands across the United States and has identified more than 160000 abandoned mine features that pose ongoing threats to human health, ecosystems, water quality, and land usability. This program reflects the agency’s broader mission to restore degraded lands, safeguard public resources, and return impacted areas to productive use for recreation, wildlife habitat, and cultural preservation. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that inventory, assess, mitigate, and remediate abandoned hardrock mine sites. Funded activities may include environmental assessments under NEPA, biological and cultural surveys, physical hazard closures such as fencing and backfilling, installation of bat friendly structures, and remediation of contaminated soil, water, and air. The program emphasizes reducing risks to human health and ecological systems while restoring watersheds and landscapes impacted by historic mining operations. Projects must demonstrate a clear public benefit and align with federal environmental standards and regulatory frameworks. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, meaning that the Bureau of Land Management will maintain substantial involvement in project execution. This may include joint planning, oversight of project stages, approval of modifications, and direct collaboration on technical implementation. The program anticipates approximately three awards with a total funding pool of four million dollars. Individual awards are expected to range from one hundred thousand dollars to one million five hundred thousand dollars. There is no cost sharing requirement, although voluntary cost share may strengthen an application during evaluation. Eligibility for this program is broad and includes state governments, local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations regardless of tax status. Individuals and for profit entities are not eligible. The Bureau also seeks to foster partnerships among eligible entities to leverage expertise and resources, particularly for projects involving watershed restoration, environmental remediation, and hazard mitigation. Certain geographic exclusions apply, as some BLM regions will not accept applications under this notice. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and require standard federal forms such as the SF 424 series, budget documentation, and a detailed project narrative. The narrative must outline the project need, technical approach, public benefit, timeline, and evaluation plan. Additional components may include environmental compliance information, stakeholder coordination plans, and documentation supporting eligibility and organizational capacity. Applicants must also complete federal registration requirements including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining an active SAM.gov registration. The application period opens on July 27 2026 and closes on August 28 2026 at 5 pm Eastern Time. Applications undergo a multi step review process including eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria emphasize applicant qualifications, technical approach, project outcomes, and the ability to leverage resources. Selected projects are expected to begin by December 31 2026 and may continue through September 30 2031. The program does not indicate recurring funding cycles, and applicants are encouraged to contact program officials directly with questions regarding eligibility or submission requirements.

Emphasize strong past performance and qualifications; clearly demonstrate technical approach and measurable outcomes; highlight partnerships and leveraged resources even though cost share is not required