Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program

The Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program supports economic and community development projects and is an opportunity for States/Tribes to return areas impacted by coal mining to productive reuse.

Congress has appropriated funding for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program (previously known as the AML Pilot Program) on an annual basis since Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The intent of the program is to explore and implement strategies that return legacy coal mining sites to productive uses through economic and community development. The AMLER Program supports local investment opportunities that provide for sustainable long-term rehabilitation of coalfield economies. The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) administers the AMLER Program and provides eligible states and tribes with AMLER funds and guidance on project eligibility criteria and reporting requirements.

The AMLER Program is restricted to Tribes with AML Programs and the six Appalachian States with the highest amount of inventoried priority coal problems as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 403(a) of SMCRA, as amended.

State, Local Citizens and the general public are protected from physical hazards and benefit from the reclamation of abandoned mine lands and polluted waters by reducing exposure to safety and health risks.

FY 2026 AMLER funds are being provided to AMLER States and Tribes as payments. In this context, payments differ from the grants that were issued for the AMLER Program before FY 2024. For FY 2026, eligible States and Tribes will need to comply with some, but not all, of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In particular, eligible States and Tribes will need to comply with 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.0 - 200.1, 200.100 - 200.113, 200.303, 200.331 - 200.333, 200.500 - 200.521. In addition, any interest earned on FY 2025 AMLER payments must be remitted to OSM for inclusion in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AML Fund). See U.S. General Accounting Office Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the FY 2026 AMLER Program Page 3 of 5 (GAO), GAO-06-382SP, Principles of Federal Appropriations Law 10-79 (2006) (GAO Red Book); see also 1 Comp. Gen. 652 (1922). States, Tribes, and local communities have the flexibility to use AMLER funds for both the reclamation of impacted lands and waters and brick and mortar needs related to the end-use development project. The AMLER Program offers maximum flexibility in this regard, letting States, Tribes, and local communities balance the needs of an individual project with the ability to fund other priority AMLER projects. Where additional resources may help expand a project's scope or outcome, States, Tribes, and local communities should consider whether a model similar to the Appalachian Regional Commission grants process could streamline project selection, and whether an interagency agreement or other contracting mechanisms could streamline program implementation. Matching funds are not required for AMLER projects, but State and Tribal programs can use other public and private resources, including Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) or AML-fee based funds as appropriate, or to provide in-kind contributions in combination with AMLER funds. States and Tribes are responsible for tracking and monitoring the FY 2026 AMLER payment and any other additional funding source(s) for the project.

AMLER: Use restrictions are outlined in the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, (PUBLIC LAW 119-74-JAN. 23, 2026)

Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental clearance actions for each individual reclamation project are completed as part of the recipient's request for OSM's approval of the Authorization to proceed, which is the point of federal action for that reclamation project.

For the AMLER Program, the general criteria by which potential projects are evaluated for eligibility and selection remain unchanged compared to previous years. However, the responsibility for that process has shifted solely to the state/tribe. OSM is available as a technical resource to assist states and tribes as needed or requested for any aspect of the AMLER Program. For reporting on the AMLER projects, OSM encouraged states and tribes to provide a detailed annual program narrative including project descriptions, fund expenditures and status updates. This information will be incorporated into future versions of this report.

Each State/Tribal AML Program is responsible for soliciting, selecting, developing, and approving eligible AMLER projects funded exclusively from AMLER payments. OSM encourages States and Tribes to ensure that each AMLER project includes a description of how, when, where, and for what reclamation, economic development, or community development purposes AMLER funds will be used. States/Tribes should ensure that project proposals include summary level information about the project's purpose, cost, partnerships and/or leveraged funds (if applicable), and the expected economic benefits that lead to the project's selection. The State/Tribe should also ensure that project proposals include information about any intended subrecipient of AMLER payments. Eligible subrecipients are typically limited to State, Tribal, and local governments, economic development organizations, local communities, and non-government organizations. These subrecipients may subcontract project-related activities. Any person or entity that is in violation of SMCRA, at the time of contract award, is not eligible for AMLER funding. State/Tribal AML Programs are encouraged to work with their local economic development authorities and local communities on AMLER project proposals. AMLER projects funded exclusively from AMLER payments are not subject to OSM preliminary vetting, NEPA review, or issuance of an Authorization to Proceed (ATP).

Project Vetting Process: OSM reviews projects selected by the state/tribe to assist with and verify project eligibility. It involves coordination with the state/tribe and OSM field, regional, and headquarters offices to resolve questions and potential issues at an early stage that could impact project progress.

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.

An applicant may appeal the OSM decision not to approve a grant or to reduce or terminate a grant to the Director, OSM, no later than 30 days after the disapproval action.