Program: infrastructure investment and jobs act abandoned mined lands (IIJA AML) program (title IV)award purpose: the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PUB

The Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement awarded the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection $244.786 million on January 1, 2026, under the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation program (CFDA 15.252) to reclaim eligible coal-mined lands and waters abandoned or inadequately restored prior to August 3, 1977.

The award funds all costs necessary to reclaim eligible lands as defined by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, including activities directly identified in the approved reclamation plan, support costs for equipment and support services, and costs to develop amendments to the approved plan. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection administers the grant through its Bureau of Fiscal Management with a period of performance extending through December 31, 2030, and place of performance in Pennsylvania.

The recipient passes funding to multiple sub-recipients delivering specific reclamation and design projects. Trout Unlimited, Inc. is conducting a design and permitting project for abandoned mine land reclamation in Snowshoe Township, Centre County, targeting the Poorman Side East AML Inventory Site (awarded July 6, 2026). Natural Streams Foundation Inc. is managing the Dinsmore East design project to facilitate coal refuse removal and permitting (awarded June 29, 2026). Altoona Water Authority is redesigning Clear Water, an acid mine drainage passive treatment system within the Glenwhite Run Watershed, originally installed in 2000 (awarded June 15, 2026). Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is addressing abandoned mine discharges at Morgan Run's headwaters to restore trout population support capability (awarded June 11, 2026). Woodlands For Wildlife is surveying, designing, permitting, and developing construction cost estimates for reclamation of 24 remaining unreclaimed AML features within the Lorberry Junction North AML Problem Area in Tremont Township (awarded June 11, 2026).

Activities

Activities include all costs necessary to reclaim eligible lands as defined by smcra and the approved reclamation plan and include costs are for activities directly identified in the approved reclamation plan, support costs including such activities as equipment and support services, and costs to develop an amendment to the approved reclamation plan. Expected deliverables or outcomes: documents related to the oversight of the state program, including deliverables, expected outcomes, and past annual evaluation reports for the state can be found on the osmre website https: odocs.osmre.GOV . Costs must be used for activities directly identified in the approved program. Support costs must be used for the activities identified in the approved program, including such activities as equipment and support services as well as costs to develop an amendment to the approved program.

Intended beneficiaries

States and tribes may use IIJA AML grants to address coal AML problems, including:1.hazards resulting from legacy coal mining that pose a threat to public health, safety, and the environment within their jurisdictions (including, but not limited to, dangerous highwalls, waste piles, subsidence, open portals, features that may be routes for the release of harmful gases, acid mine drainage, etc.) 2.water supply restoration (infrastructure) AND3.coal AML emergencies.subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award): n a