Regulation of Surface Coal Mining and Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.250
- Agency
-
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 678 $1,107,547,724 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Formula Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Block Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1801-0-1-302
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement funds states and tribes to administer and enforce approved surface coal mining regulatory programs under Assistance Listing 15.250, with the most recent award dated January 1, 2026. The source lists no recent grant opportunities, so no open solicitation is documented. Activity has held steady: 25 awards in 2022, 26 each in 2023 through 2025, and 5 in 2026 to date, out of 678 total awards since the first on June 1, 1998. Combined federal dollars obligated total $1.11 billion, and combined obligations including the non-federal share total $1.94 billion. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is the sole funding federal agency.
Each award funds the administration and enforcement of a named state or tribal regulatory program under 30 CFR Subchapter T. Allowable costs include activities directly identified in the approved program, support costs such as equipment and support services, and costs to develop a program amendment. Recent examples include WVDEP at $4,915,948 (S26AP00024), Louisiana at $600,928.91 (S26AP00018), and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet at $24,642,534 (S25AP00183, awarded September 1, 2025). Recent awards range from $10,000 to $32,613,810.72, the latter to Pennsylvania (S24AP00008, awarded October 1, 2023).
Assistance is predominantly Project Grants, with 593 awards (87%), followed by 39 Cooperative Agreements (6%), 35 Formula Grants (5%), and 11 Block Grants (2%).
Eligibility requires an approved state or tribal regulatory program and a designated state agency to receive administration and enforcement grants. Awards are allocated by the state's or tribe's need relative to other eligible states and tribes. Grants require annual renewal of applications. OSM Regional staff review applications within 60 days of receipt, and the approval or disapproval process is usually conducted within 30 days. Recipients must retain financial and supporting records for three years after the final expenditure report, or after the quarterly or annual financial report for annually or quarterly renewed awards.
Objective and description
- Objective
To assist the States and Tribes with active coal mining in administering approved regulatory programs.
- Description
Title V of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), P.L. 95-87, as amended, authorizes the Office of Surface Mining to fund state, tribal and Federal programs to control the environmental impacts of surface coal mining. It authorizes states and tribes to develop and assume regulatory primacy, act as the regulatory authority, and operate their coal regulatory program. OSM regulations at 30 CFR Chapter VII implement SMCRA.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
The State or Tribe must have an approved program to regulate surface coal mining and a designated State agency to receive administration and enforcement regulatory grants.
- Beneficiary eligibility
State agencies responsible for regulation, reclamation and enforcement of provisions protecting the environment from negative effects of coal mining operations.
- Uses of assistance
Grants for permanent program development are available to fund staff and related costs in connection with preparing legislative proposals; preparing regulations; preparing permanent program applications to the Office of Surface Mining (OSM); and for other related purposes. Administration and Enforcement grants are awarded to assist qualified recipients that have received approval to operate permanent regulatory programs. Funded cooperative agreements provide for the regulation of coal mining activities on Federal lands. Technical assistance is available on any aspect of regulating surface impacts of coal mining.
- Use restrictions
Follow the cost principles at 2 CFR 200.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
All administration and enforcement grants are limited to one year period and are annually renewable.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Designated agencies that choose to comply with the Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Provisions, Parts 725, 735, and 795 (Federal Register, Vol. 423, No. 239, Tuesday, December 13, 1977, Vol. 47, No. 169, August 31, 1982 and Vol. 48, No. 12, January 18, 1983), are eligible for awards. Criteria for amounts awarded are the State or Tribes need relative to other eligible States/Tribes.
- Award procedure
Grant applications will be reviewed by appropriate OSM Regional staff within 60 days of receipt of application. If the application is not approved, the Regional Office will set forth in writing the reasons for disapproval and may propose modifications if appropriate. The applicant may submit the revised application or appropriate revised portions of the application.
- Deadlines
General deadline to apply: 09/30/20XX
- Time to approval or disapproval
The approval/disapproval process is usually conducted within 30 days.
- Renewals
Annual renewal of applications is required for grants.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 678 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy & Environment Cabinet | $203,306,100 | 18% |
| 2 | West Virginia Department Of Environmental Protection | $179,006,502 | 16% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Department Of Environmental Protection | $178,509,525 | 16% |
| 4 | The Virginia Department Of Energy | $53,027,498 | 5% |
| 5 | Department Of Natural Resources Illinois | $50,088,646 | 5% |
| 6 | Colorado Department Of Natural Resources | $42,151,311 | 4% |
| 7 | Texas Railroad Comm | $35,118,252 | 3% |
| 8 | Utah Oil Gas & Mining Division | $31,322,748 | 3% |
| 9 | Wyoming Department Of Environmental Quality | $31,306,728 | 3% |
| 10 | Montana Department Of Environmental Quality | $28,639,017 | 3% |
10 of 35 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $8,230,186 |
| FY2025 | $64,825,370 |
| FY2024 | $59,550,827 |
| FY2023 | $60,305,970 |
| FY2022 | $62,777,202 |
| FY2021 | $59,914,607 |
| FY2020 | $65,610,974 |
| FY2019 | $52,428,982 |
| FY2018 | $78,630,690 |
| FY2017 | $60,677,380 |
| FY2016 | $63,774,847 |
| FY2015 | $64,029,631 |
| FY2014 | $74,373,026 |
| FY2013 | $58,953,829 |
| FY2012 | $63,254,686 |
| FY2011 | $55,803,303 |
| FY2010 | $1,137,514 |
| FY2006 | $46,589,563 |
| FY2005 | $14,133,448 |
| FY2004 | $15,837,396 |
| FY2003 | $13,955,868 |
| FY2002 | $12,752,453 |
| FY2001 | $28,042,221 |
Show all 23
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.250?
Assistance Listing 15.250 is Regulation of Surface Coal Mining and Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining, a federal grant program run by Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Regulation of Surface Coal Mining and Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining?
Its CFDA number is 15.250: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.250 awarded?
678 grant awards under 15.250 have obligated $1,107,547,724 in federal funds to 35 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.250?
The recipients obligated the most under Regulation of Surface Coal Mining and Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining are Energy & Environment Cabinet ($203,306,100), West Virginia Department Of Environmental Protection ($179,006,502) and Pennsylvania Department Of Environmental Protection ($178,509,525).
How much did 15.250 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.250 obligated $64,825,370 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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