Not-for-Profit AMD Reclamation

The Not-for-Profit, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Reclamation - Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) seeks applications from eligible applicants to restore streams affected by AMD to a level that will support a diverse biological community and p

The Statutory Authority for the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program is the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), as amended, Public Law 95-87, 91 Stat. 445-532. In accordance with Section 404 of SMCRA, lands and water eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement under Section 404 of Public Law 95-87 (the Act), Stat. 445-532 as amended, are those which were mined for coal or which were affected by mining, waste banks, coal processing, or other coal mining processes prior to August 3, 1977, and left in an unclaimed or inadequately reclaimed condition, for which there is no continuing reclamation responsibility under state or other Federal laws. WCAP is designed to be partnered with other funding sources to assist groups such as small watershed organizations to complete local AMD reclamation projects. Funding is available to assist local 501(c)(3) status organizations and groups that undertake local AMD reclamation projects to improve the water quality of streams impacted by acid mine drainage. The funding priorities and technical focus for this announcement are to restore streams affected by AMD to a level that will support a diverse biological community and provide recreational opportunities for the public. Non-Federal entities may use WCAP funds only for AMD problems related to SMCRA defined abandoned coal mining activities and processes, which include remediation of AMD, sources of AMD, and installation of passive or active water treatment systems, including repairs and renovations. Projects may also include reclamation of lands that are contributing sediment or acid forming materials to streams. For other provisions relating to lands and waters eligible for such expenditures, see Section 402(g) (4), Section 403(b) (1), and Section 409 of Public Law 95-87.

Recipients must be not-for-profit IRS 501(c)(3) status organizations. Federal, state, local governments, colleges, and universities are not eligible to receive direct funding.

Communities impacted by streams polluted by AMD will benefit from this program.

Funding is available to assist local organizations, especially watershed groups, to improve the water quality of streams impacted by AMD. Lands and water eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under Section 404 of Public Law 95-87 are those which were mined for coal or which were affected by such mining, waste banks, coal processing, or other coal mining processes, and for which there is no continuing reclamation responsibility under state or other Federal laws.

The cooperative agreements will have a performance period of two years.

Successful applications must provide evidence of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.4321- 4370h) Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other applicable Federal and state law and regulations.

Please refer to the funding opportunity for criteria for selecting proposals.

Applications must be submitted through grants.gov in response to a NOFO. Application will be reviewed as received on a rolling basis. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether they are eligible, complete, and responsive and aligned with the respective program objectives and research grant areas as described in the Program Description. • Applications determined to be ineligible, incomplete, and/or non-responsive based on the initial screening will be eliminated from further review. • Applications that are determined to be eligible, complete, and responsive will proceed for full merit reviews in accordance with the review and selection processes set forth below for each of the respective programs. • At least three objective reviewers, knowledgeable in the subject matter of this NOFO and its objectives, will evaluate each application based on the evaluation criteria • Each reviewer will assign individual scores to each criterion for each application. • The scores provided by each reviewer for each application will then be combined to form a composite score for each application, which serves as the basis for the relative ordering or ranking of applications. • OSM may select some, all, or none of the applications, or part(s) of any particular application. • The OSM Field Directors or his/her designee approves and awards cooperative agreements for this program.

Please refer to the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on Grants.gov, for the application submission deadline.

Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on Grants.gov, for the application submission deadline. Applications will be considered on a continuing/rolling bases until the closing date identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on grants.gov. Applications will be accepted up to 60 day from the time a Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted on grants.gov. Applications will be considered on a continuing/rolling bases until the announcement closing date.

Renewals are not applicable; Each recipient grantee may apply for non-funded extensions of time as necessary to complete the project up to one year. If additional funding is need an additional application must be submitted in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity.