Program: abandoned mined lands (AML) program (title IV) economic revitalization programaward purpose: the consolidated appropriations act, 2023 (PUB

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) received a $29,347,333 Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) under the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program (CFDA 15.252) to reclaim abandoned mine lands in West Virginia. The grant funding will be used to abate high-priority AML features, treat acid mine drainage, and provide potable water to communities affected by legacy coal mining. Specific activities include reclaiming AML sites with the goal of enabling economic and community development through the productive reuse of the reclaimed land, such as for outdoor recreation, reforestation, agriculture, or commercial/industrial development. The grant aims to improve environmental conditions, property values, and quality of life in West Virginia's coal mining communities. The performance period for this award is January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026.

Activities

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 amler 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