Program: bureau of land management s environmental quality and protection program

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) awarded a five-year Cooperative Agreement totaling $655,669.72 to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources under the Environmental Quality and Protection program (CFDA 15.236), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030. The award supports a partnership to assess, decommission, reclaim, and remediate abandoned mine and orphaned well sites on BLM-administered public lands throughout Colorado's watersheds. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources will target 10 to 15 remediation sites annually, addressing physical safety hazards and environmental contamination that pose risks to human health, wildlife, and groundwater and surface water resources.

The initiative enables restored lands to return to safe and productive uses, primarily supporting energy development activities while promoting economic benefits to communities affected by job losses in the energy and mining sectors. Project deliverables include creating accurate mapping and inventory tools for fluid minerals and contracting qualified local businesses to conduct remediation, reclamation, and restoration activities. All activities must comply with 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance requirements. The award aligns with the Presidential Declaration of a National Energy Emergency and is funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act and Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements under 16 U.S.C. § 1011.

Purpose

This award supports partnerships to mitigate hazards to protect public health and safety and the environment, restore watersheds, improve site safety on public lands. Unrestored sites may pose a threat to wildlife, biota, groundwater, surface water, and soil as well as to risks to the health and safety of public land users. This agreement supports a partnership between the bureau of land management (BLM) and the colorado department of natural resources, energy and carbon management commission, to address physical safety hazards and contamination that pose a risk to human health and the environment through by addressing remediation and restoration of sites on public lands along colorado s watershed. This agreement aligns with the presidential declaration of a national energy emergency by accelerating energy development on public lands through deregulation, enhanced site security, and expedited permitting. Funding is provided through the consolidated appropriations act and watershed restoration and enhancement agreements, 16 U.S.C. 1011.

Activities

The agreement supports the assessment, decommissioning, reclamation, and remediation of sites on public lands in colorado. The project enables lands to be returned to safe and productive uses, primarily for energy development. This initiative promotes shared knowledge and resources for a streamlined approach to energy development activities, supports jobs in communities affected by job losses in the energy and mining sectors, and contracts qualified local businesses for remediation, reclamation, and restoration activities. The project will target 10 to 15 sites per year and include activities like creating accurate mapping and inventory tools for fluid minerals. Activities funded by this grant must comply with the uniform guidance or 2 CFR 200 as identified in the approved application, proposal, and budget and as authorized by the 16 USC 1011: watershed restoration and enhancement agreements, and the federal land policy and management act of 1976.

Expected outcomes

1.improve land health by remediating and reclaiming sites and associated infrastructure found on public lands.2.restoration of land and water resources and property on colorado s public lands.3.improve site safety through removal of decommissioning aging and degraded infrastructure and mitigating hazards to land and water.4. Improve water quality along colorado s four watersheds, including colorado, south platte, arkansas, and RIO grande water basins.

Intended beneficiaries

The project activities funded through this agreement are for the primary benefit of the public by providing direct and measurable benefits. The project funded through this agreement is for the primary benefit of the public by providing direct and measurable benefits that a wide range of stakeholders, including public land users and permit holders for agricultural, recreation, and energy development uses. This agreement also supports economic development in local, rural communities. Oil and gas well sites threaten current and future oil and gas development, impacting national energy security and public safety. This agreement supports site safety, enhancement of wildlife and aquatic habitats, the removal of land use restrictions, acceleration of permitting of public lands, and job creation in the oil and gas industry. The agreement directly benefits the public through its activities and outcomes as well as a variety of stakeholder groups and users of public lands.subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award): not applicable.