Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR/AML) Grants

 

The U.S. Department of the Interior has been authorized to establish a Hardrock Abandoned Mine Land Program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This program is separate and not inclusive of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcements (OSMRE) Abandoned Mine Lands Program. Over the decades, extractive industry activities have left behind a number of underground and aboveground mines and features that pose physical safety hazards and have degraded the environment impacting various media. The programs goal is to assist States and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments with mitigating the physical safety and contaminant risks associated with hardrock, non-coal abandoned mine sites and features. Eligible activities that will be approved for Federal Financial Assistance include inventory, assessment, decommission, reclamation, response to hazardous substance releases, and remediation of abandoned mine lands based on need, public health and safety, potential environmental harm, and other land use priorities. Funds may be used for activities under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and other laws and regulations appropriate to adequately address hardrock mine sites or features.

Active 15.099 Departmental Offices, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2023 This is a new grant program. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Part Title VII – Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation, Section Section 40704 – Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation, Public Law -Public Law 117-58 States and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments with non-coal abandoned mine lands are eligible. Hardrock AML sites that are being addressed through other programs, including but not limited to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund Program [e.g., removal actions and National Priorities List (NPL) sites], the U.S. Department of Energy Defense-Related Uranium Mines (DRUM) program, or sites already funded by the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation's (OMSRE) Abandoned Mine Lands program grants are not eligible for this grant. Not applicable. To be eligible, States and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments must have at least one abandoned mine or feature that meets the criteria for funding established for the Non-coal Abandoned Mine Land program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Please check the posted Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) for more details. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on www.Grants.gov. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Submission of a complete technical proposal and project budget is mandatory by the due date identified in the funding opportunity. In addition, applicants must submit all applicable SF 424 forms and documents referenced in the funding opportunity. All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the notice of funding opportunity, program regulations, and statutes. All timely submitted and qualified proposals are reviewed by program staff and a financial assistance official. Unsuccessful applicants will receive notice in writing. All approved grants will be awarded using GrantSolutions and recipient payments will be made using the U.S. Department of Treasury's Automated Standard Applications (ASAP) for the payments system. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. The First Level of Screening addresses basic eligibility as outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted on Grants.Gov. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Applications must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov. Application screening may include, but is not limited to, the following activities: program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package, including required documents and attachments. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. The Second Level Evaluation or Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity as posted on www.grants.gov. The Third Level Review Pre-Award involves pre-award clearances and approvals required to issue Federal Financial Assistance. The Federal Awarding Agency will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations, the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other program requirements. Activities may include developing methods to inventory, assess, decommission, reclaim respond to hazardous substance releases on, and remediate non-coal AML sites and features impacted by past mining activities; reduce the inventory of hardrock abandoned mines; reduce liabilities by eliminating or reducing risks posed by hardrock abandoned mines; protect public health and safety; and reduce potential environmental harm caused by hardrock abandoned mines. Not applicable. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. For awards administered by Indian Tribal Governments, the Tribe is responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims, or audit findings involving the records have been resolved and final action taken, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart D ?200.333, Retention Requirements for Records. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The project period of performance may be up to five years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance is the following: the program obligates funds, reviews and selects recipients, and issues a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. The program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the award notice. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. None/Not specified. Gregory Nottingham
U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance
1849 C Street, NW, Room 261
Washington, DC 20240 USA
gregory_nottingham@ios.doi.gov
Phone: 202-513-0361 14-2641-0-1-302 (Project Grants) FY 22 FY 23 est $3,140,000.00; FY 24 est $3,140,000.00; - $1 - $314,000 The Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program is guided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, PL 117-58, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et. seq.), and the Surface Mining Reclamation Control and Reclamation Act of 1997, PL 95-87 and Amended through PL 177-58. Additional manuals, such as DOI Environmental and Disposal Liabilities and compliance guidance, are available to the public free of charge by visiting: www.doi.gov/oepc/legacy-pollution-remediation-and-reclamation Fiscal Year 2023 This is a new program and not projects have yet been funded.
Fiscal Year 2024 Future funded projects may include inventory, assessment, decommission, reclamation, response to hazardous substance releases, and remediation of abandoned mine lands based on need, public health and safety, potential environmental harm, and other land use priorities.