Science and Technology Projects Related to Coal Mining and Reclamation

 

The goal of the OSMRE Applied Science Program is to develop and demonstrate improved science based technologies to address environmental, and restoration topics related to the mining of coal. The first objective to help us meet this goal is to develop technical tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of regulatory authorities in permitting coal mines and administering their federally approved regulatory program. A second objective is to examine the potential for new technologies that can aid in the protection of the public and the environment during mining and reclamation. A third objective is to provide opportunities for college and university students to participate in research projects related to coal mining and reclamation issues in order to build a pool of qualified potential applicants for future implementation of SMCRA. Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (MDTI) (formally known as the Acid Mine Drainage Initiative) provides a forum for collaboration and information exchange with the following goals: Develop an understanding of acidic and toxic mine drainage (MD) so as to better predict, avoid, monitor, and remediate mine drainage; Develop innovative solutions to acidic and toxic MD water-quality problems; Identify, evaluate, and develop best science practices to predict acidic and toxic MD prior to mining; and Identify successful remediation practices for existing sources of acidic and toxic MD and describe the best technology for its prevention. OSMRE is looking for MDTI studies that address the goals listed above that have the potential for improving the effectiveness of both the coal industry and the regulatory authority to conduct and regulate surface coal mining and reclamation activities that protect the environment and the public.

Active 15.255 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 OSMRE is currently funding two projects under the Acid Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (currently known as Mine Drainage Technology Initiative). Projects consist of a study to better understand the selenium sorption in coal mine drainage and a study investigating the effects of conductivity on a suite of stream organism found in coal mining regions. The program anticipated to issue 26 additional awards based on funding appropriations and availability. OSMRE is currently funding one projects under the Acid Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (currently known as Mine Drainage Technology Initiative). Projects consist of a study investigating the effects of conductivity on a suite of stream organism found in coal mining regions. Applied Science: In FY17 OSMRE is funding approximately 19 project under the Applied Science Program.
Fiscal Year 2018 Applied Science: In FY 18, OSMRE continued funding 20 projects that were awarded in FY 16 and FY 17. Underground Mine Mapping: In FY 18, OSMRE does not anticipate any awards to be issued, due to lack of appropriations. Mine Drainage Technology Imitative: In FY 18, OSMRE received 8 application and funded one project under the Mine Drainage Technology Initiative.
Fiscal Year 2020 Applied Science: OSMRE received 51 applications and issuing 7 awards. Mine Drainage Technology Initiative: In FY 20, OSMRE received 6 applications and issued 1 award.
Fiscal Year 2021 Applied Science: OSMRE received 39 applications and plans to issued 8 awards. Mine Drainage Technology Imitative: OSMRE received 10 applications and issued 1 award.
Fiscal Year 2022 One project was selected for FY 2022. It was funded at $200,000. This project will have the potential for improving the effectiveness of both the coal industry and the regulatory authority to conduct and regulate surface coal mining and reclamation activities that protect the environment and the public.
Fiscal Year 2023 One project was selected for FY 2023. It was funded at $200,000. This project will have the potential for improving the effectiveness of both the coal industry and the regulatory authority to conduct and regulate surface coal mining and reclamation activities that protect the environment and the public. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87) as amended, Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-224) Applied Science Projects: Recipients may be any of the following: public, private, or non-profit entities; Federal, state, local or tribal governments; and colleges and universities located in the United States. Underground Mine Map Projects: Recipients may be any state or Indian tribe where coal mining or reclamation activities authorized under SMCRA are occurring. Mine Drainage Technology Initiative Projects: Recipients may be any of the following: public, private, or non-profit entities; State, local or Tribal governments; and colleges and universities located in the United States. Communities impacted by coal mining and reclamation of the land after mining. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications should be submitted in response to the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted on Grants.gov. o Applications must be submitted through grant.gov in response to a NOFO. Application receive by the deadline will be reviewed to determine whether they are eligible, complete, and responsive and aligned with the respective program objectives and research grant areas as described in the Program Description o Applications determined to be ineligible, incomplete, and/or non-responsive based on the initial screening will be eliminated from further review. o Applications that are determined to be eligible, complete, and responsive will proceed for full merit reviews in accordance with the review and selection processes set forth below for each of the respective programs. o At least three objective reviewers, knowledgeable in the subject matter of this NOFO and its objectives, will evaluate each application based on the evaluation criteria o Each reviewer will assign individual scores to each criterion for each application. o The scores provided by each reviewer for each application will then be combined to form a composite score for each application, which serves as the basis for the relative ordering or ranking of applications. o OSMRE may select some, all, or none of the applications, or part(s) of any particular application. o The OSMRE Field Directors or his/her designee approves financial assistance award funded at Regional or Local Office. The MDTI cooperative agreement is funded at the Headquarter level and is approved by the Chief of Regulatory Support. See the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on Grants.gov, for the application submission deadline. The application deadline will be 60 day from the initial posting date on Grants.gov. From 90 to 120 days. Not applicable. Renewals are not applicable; Each recipient grantee may apply for non-funded extensions of time as necessary to complete the project up to one year. The criteria used to evaluate and select proposal will be based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, provisions of appropriation laws, reports, and as otherwise specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Projects must focus on issues related to coal mining in the United States. Project funding will be limited to the amount of the initial OSMRE award, no additional funding will be provided by OSMRE throughout the project. Projects that are long term in nature or larger in scope than what can be accomplished with funds available the prescribed fiscal year, must be described in such a manner to allow OSMRE to identify a severable portion of the project with specific measurable accomplishments. Performance Reports: Cooperative Agreement requires substantial involvement in the scope of work and are subject to performance monitoring. Not applicable. 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 or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or passthrough entity in the case of a subrecipient, except as noted in 2 CFR Part 200.334. 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 grants and cooperative agreements may have a performance period of up to two years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. Applied Science: Kwang 'Min' Kim Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Phone: (618) 463-6463 x-5151 Email: kkim@osmre.gov Mine Drainage Technology Initiative: Cecil Slaughter, Hydrologist Phone: (202) 208-2866 Email: cslaughter@osmre.gov Yolande J.C. Norman-Moore, Chief
Department of Interior
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement
1849 C Street NW
Main Interior Building, Room 4545
Washington, DC 20240 US
ynorman@osmre.gov
Phone: 2022082868

James Cash
Room 4551
Department of Interior (DOI)
DOI HQ Building
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Washington, DC 20240 USA
acash@osmre.gov
Phone: 202-742-0778 http://www.osmre.gov 14-5015-0-2-999 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$200,000.00; FY 23 est $200,000.00; FY 24 est $200,000.00; FY 21$1,079,999.00; FY 20$1,020,000.00; FY 18$200,000.00; FY 19 est $200,000.00; FY 17$0.00; - Award amounts ranges from $116K to $200K. The FY 2024 obligation estimate is subject to the availability of appropriations. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87; as amended; and informal agency guidelines titled "Federal Assistance Manual." Fiscal Year 2017 Program anticipates funding projects that will address critical challenges in energy production by investing in applied science projects, or studies, that would advance technologies and practices specific to coal mined sites for more comprehensive ecosystem restoration, including reforestation and reclamation for the protection and enhancement/recovery of threatened and endangered bat species, and mapping and hydrologic assessment of flooded/flooding abandoned underground mines. The Applied Science program funded a study to develop low-cost green technologies to remediate and restore acid mine drainage (AMD) and impacted soil. The Acid Mine Drainage Technology Initiative conduct studies to better understand the selenium sorption in coal mine drainage. The Program have been fund projects that addressed critical challenges in coal production by investing in applied science projects, or studies, that advance technologies and practices specific to coal mined sites for more comprehensive ecosystem restoration. These project included reforestation and reclamation for the protection and enhancement/recovery of threatened and endangered bat species, and mapping and hydrologic assessment of flooded/flooding abandoned underground mines.
Fiscal Year 2018 The Applied Science program funded a study to develop low-cost green technologies to remediate and restore acid mine drainage (AMD) and impacted soil. The Mine Drainage Technology Initiative have conduct several studies to better understand the selenium sorption in coal mine drainage, a study investigating the effects of conductivity on a suite of stream organism found in coal mining regions, and a study evaluating the use of recycled concrete aggregate fines, non-cementitious high carbon fly ash, and excess aggregate quarry fines to treat acid mine drainage from coal mines. The Applied Science Program have been fund projects that addressed critical challenges in coal production by investing in applied science projects, or studies, that advance technologies and practices specific to coal mined sites for more comprehensive ecosystem restoration. These project included reforestation and reclamation for the protection and enhancement/recovery of threatened and endangered bat species, and mapping and hydrologic assessment of flooded/flooding abandoned underground mines.
Fiscal Year 2019 No information available.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY 2020, the Technical Studies program funded eight studies that focused on geomorphic impoundment reclamation, improving surface and water quality in mined areas, re-vegetation and use of reclaimed mine sits by threatened or endangered species, reclamation of AML coal mine waste sites, and potential uses of residues produced by treatment of mining impacted water. The Mine Drainage Technology Initiative funded a study regarding selective recovery of critical minerals from acid mine drainage and Its byproducts.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY 2021, the Technical Studies program solicited proposals to fund studies that focused on use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Waste as a Soil Amendment, Pollutional Discharge Prevention Permitting Strategy for Underground Mines, Water Quality Impacts from Mining, Evaluation of the Potential for Economical and Environmentally Friendly Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Mine Waste, Characteristics of Successful Stream Restoration Projects under SMCRA and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Evaluation of Backfill Aquifers as Water Supply Sources, etc.
Fiscal Year 2022 One project was selected for FY 2022. It was funded at $200,000. This project will have the potential for improving the effectiveness of both the coal industry and the regulatory authority to conduct and regulate surface coal mining and reclamation activities that protect the environment and the public.
Fiscal Year 2023 One project was selected for FY 2023. It was funded at $200,000. This project will have the potential for improving the effectiveness of both the coal industry and the regulatory authority to conduct and regulate surface coal mining and reclamation activities that protect the environment and the public.