S23AF00028

Program Abandoned Mined Lands (AML) Program (Title IV) Economic and Community Development Pilot Program Award Purpose

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117 103) authorized the AML Economic and Community Development Pilot Program. The purpose of the program is reclamation of abandoned mine lands in conjunction with economic and community development and reuse goals. The grant will accelerate the remediation of AML sites with economic and community development end uses in mind. The state tribe will seek collaborative partnerships with state tribe and local economic and community development groups, watershed groups, or other citizen community groups to explore and implement ways to return legacy coal sites to productive reuse.

Activities to be Performed

State tribal AML programs, in consultation with state tribal, local economic, and community development authorities, must develop eligible projects that demonstrate a nexus with AML land and water reclamation, and economic and community development. The AML pilot program is an opportunity for local communities and states tribes to return impacted areas to productive reuse, which should be defined by the states tribes in cooperation with local communities, to achieve the economic and community development goals identified for the community and/or region.

Expected Deliverables or Outcomes

Abatement of AML P1, P2, and P3 features and treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD), as well as providing potable water to communities with degraded drinking water supplies due to pre-law mining, results in overall improvement to the quality of life for citizens living in coalfield communities. The primary long-term benefit of AML reclamation activities in general is the permanent elimination of documented human health and safety hazards and the abatement of environmental problems which resulted from the past mining of coal. Long-term benefits also include improvements in aesthetics, topography, hydrology, and land use. Projects will specifically target the benefits to the local community and economic development which may result from the AML restored areas that can be put into productive uses for outdoor recreation, reforestation, carbon sequestration, farming or livestock, or can be developed for commercial or industrial purposes.

Intended Beneficiaries

Environmental restoration and AMD treatment improve property values and quality of life which, in turn, improve population retention, job retention, hunting, fishing, tourism, and many other opportunities to improve the local economy.

Subrecipient Activities (if known or specified at time of award)

N/A

Pennsylvania Department Of Environmental Protection

15.252 - Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR)

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) [DOI]

Pennsylvania United States

State-Wide

S-S-AMLER-22-003

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 10/31/25 to 10/31/26.