Environmental Quality and Protection

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its cooperative government and nongovernmental conservation partners, mitigate hazards to protect public health and safety, restore watersheds for resources, recreation, fish, wildlife and domestic animals, and return lands to productive uses including, but not limited to, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and preservation of historical/cultural resources. Extractive industry and disposal activities of the past, including both underground and surface mining, have left degraded watersheds on public lands throughout the western United States. Un-reclaimed sites pose an environmental threat to groundwater, surface water and soil as well as create a risk to the health and safety of public land users. Mitigation measures are implemented through core programs such as: 1). Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program, which addresses physical safety hazards and water quality through restoration of abandoned hard rock mines. and 2). Educational outreach about the potential dangers posed to the public and recreationists from AML sites. The AML Program will contribute to the conservation and restoration of approximately 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030. Additionally, this will help ensure that public land users are not at risk from the dangers of legacy mining activities.

First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant�s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements.

Fiscal year 2025: Multiple projects were funded to perform inventory, wildlife clearances, bat surveys, and NEPA work at AML sites in New Mexico, Montana, California and other western states. Projects were funded to complete the closure of AML physical safety hazards including open shafts and adits. Fiscal year 2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that support the inventory, cultural and biological clearances, NEPA and closure work associated with mitigating abandoned mine land sites and features.