Science and Technology Projects Related to Coal Mining and Reclamation

The goal of the OSM Applied Science Program is to develop and demonstrate improved science-based technologies to address environmental, and restoration topics related to the mining of coal. This is a discretionary Program, and its further funding and

The Science and Technical Studies Program supports studies/projects that develop and demonstrate improved technologies to address public safety and environmental issues related to coal mining and reclamation of abandoned mined lands and polluted waters. (Technical Studies including Applied Science projects) This is a discretionary Program, and its further funding and direction are subject to Congressional Appropriations and Administration Priorities.

Applied Science Projects: Recipients may be any of the following: public, private, or non-profit entities; Federal, State, local or Tribal governments; and colleges and universities located in the United States.

Communities impacted by coal mining and reclamation of the land after mining.

Projects must focus on issues related to coal mining in the United States. Project funding will be limited to the amount of the initial OSM award, no additional funding will be provided by OSM throughout the project. Projects that are long term in nature or larger in scope than what can be accomplished with funds available the prescribed fiscal year, must be described in such a manner to allow OSM to identify a severable portion of the project with specific measurable accomplishments.

Restrictions can be referenced in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, as amended, 91 Stat. 445-532, and Public Law 116-6 and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).

The grants and cooperative agreements may have a performance period of up to two years.

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

The criteria used to evaluate and select proposal will be based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, provisions of appropriation laws, reports, and as otherwise specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

• Applications must be submitted through grant.gov in response to a NOFO. Application receive by the deadline 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 financial assistance award funded at Regional or Local Office.

See the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on Grants.gov, for the application submission deadline. The application deadline will be 60 day from the initial posting date on Grants.gov.

The criteria used to evaluate and select proposal will be based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, provisions of appropriation laws, reports, and as otherwise specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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.