Federal Grant Award Summary

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection received a $140.68 million formula grant from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) under the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Program (CFDA 15.252), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. This award is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which authorized $11.293 billion for abandoned mine reclamation nationwide, distributing approximately $725 million annually to eligible states and tribes over a 15-year period.

The grant supports comprehensive reclamation activities addressing coal mining legacy hazards within West Virginia, including closure of dangerous mine openings, treatment of acid mine drainage, restoration of degraded lands and water resources, and provision of safe drinking water in areas with groundwater contamination from abandoned coal mines. Eligible activities encompass all costs necessary to implement the approved reclamation plan, including direct reclamation work, equipment, support services, and plan amendments. The state may engage sub-recipients such as local governments, conservation agencies, and community organizations to execute these environmental protection and restoration projects, with emphasis on projects that support employment for current and former coal industry workers and advance community economic development goals.