Abandoned Mine Land and Abandoned Mine Drainage Grant Program

The Abandoned Mine Land and Abandoned Mine Drainage Grant Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through its Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, under authorization from the United States Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. The program is designed to address environmental and public safety issues associated with legacy coal mining activities that occurred prior to modern regulatory frameworks. Funding is derived from multiple federal sources, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program, and Title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and is administered in accordance with federal grant regulations under 2 CFR Part 200. The primary purpose of the program is to support projects that reclaim abandoned mine lands and mitigate or treat abandoned mine drainage. These efforts aim to resolve serious health and safety hazards, restore degraded watersheds, maintain and upgrade existing treatment systems, and achieve measurable improvements in water quality. Projects must directly contribute to environmental restoration through proven methods and demonstrate quantifiable outcomes. Activities that are unrelated to abandoned coal mining impacts or that are purely research or economic development without environmental benefit are not eligible. Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, conservation districts, councils of government, municipal authorities, and incorporated nonprofit organizations focused on environmental conservation. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to manage public funds responsibly, including compliance with reporting and administrative requirements from prior grants if applicable. Additionally, applicants must identify a specific project site that has been verified as eligible within federal and state abandoned mine land inventories, typically associated with coal mines abandoned prior to August 3, 1977. A mandatory pre-application requirement is the completion of an Initial Project Consultation with program staff at least 45 days before the opening of an application round. This consultation ensures that project eligibility is confirmed and that all necessary documentation and inventory updates are addressed prior to submission. Following the consultation, applicants must prepare a detailed application including a project narrative, budget, permitting considerations, property owner consents, and any required environmental or technical analyses such as water monitoring data for drainage projects. Applications are submitted through the Commonwealth’s electronic Single Application for Assistance system. The program operates in two competitive rounds each year, during which eligible applications are evaluated based on a scoring system that includes project merit, risk assessment, and cost-benefit analysis. Funding decisions are made based on rankings and available funds, and applicants may receive partial or full awards depending on risk classification and project value. The program does not require matching funds, and all payments are made on a reimbursement basis. Grant agreements typically have a performance period not exceeding three years. Additional compliance requirements include adherence to federal labor standards and domestic sourcing provisions. Projects may also qualify for protections under Pennsylvania’s Environmental Good Samaritan Act, provided the necessary approvals are obtained prior to submission. Overall, the program represents a significant statewide effort to remediate environmental damage from historical mining operations while improving public health, safety, and ecological conditions. With substantial funding allocated annually and structured evaluation criteria, the program prioritizes impactful, feasible, and sustainable projects that align with both state and federal reclamation goals.

Ensure project demonstrates measurable environmental improvement; complete consultation early; provide strong cost-benefit justification; secure permits and property consents in advance; include detailed technical data to support claims