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Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program

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 Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) administers the AMLER Program and provides eligible states and Tribes with AMLER funds and guidance on project eligibility criteria and reporting requirements.

AMLER Funding

Pursuant to the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Pub. L. No. 119-4), on June 4, 2025, OSMRE made direct payments to AMLER eligible states and Tribes. The FY 2025 AMLER Program provides funds to the six Appalachian states with the highest amount of unfunded Priority 1 and Priority 2 AML sites based on OSMRE AML inventory data as of September 30, 2024 and the three tribes with AML Programs. Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are each allocated $28.666 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia are each allocated $11 million; the Crow Tribe and the Hopi Tribe each allocated at $3.667 million; and the Navajo Nation is allocated $3.666 million. 

Appropriated AMLER Funding (Millions of Dollars)

This is a bar chart with the AMLER funds appropriated for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 through FY 2025. From FY 2016 to FY 2023, AMLER funds were awarded through grants, but in FY 2024 and FY 2025 AMLER funds were awarded through payments. For FY 2016, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $30 million for a total of $90 million. For FY 2017, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $25 million and Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $10 million for a total of $105 million. For FY 2018, 2019, and 2020, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $25 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $10 million; and the Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.33 million for a total of $115 million each fiscal year. For FY 2021, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $25 million; Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia were each appropriated $10 million; and the Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.33 million for a total of $115 million. For FY 2022, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $26.63 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $10.652 million; and the Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.551 million for a total of $122.5 million. For FY 2023, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $29.347 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $11.739 million; and the Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.913 million for a total of $135 million. For FY 2024, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $28.667 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $11 million; the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.667 million; and the Crow Tribe was appropriated $3.666 million for a total of $130 million. For FY 2025, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were each appropriated $28.667 million; Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia were each appropriated $11 million; the Crow Tribe and the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation were each appropriated $3.667 million; and the Navajo Nation was appropriated $3.666 million for a total of $130 million.

General AMLER Process for FY 2016 - FY 2023 Funding

Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program Process. Step 1: Congress announces annual AMLER funding as part of annual Appropriation Law. Step 2: OSMRE informs eligible states/tribes that they will receive AMLER funds and allocations are made to each state/tribe. Step 3: State/Tribe work with partners to compile, assess, and select potential projects to submit to OSMRE for vetting. Step 4: OSMRE reviews projects submitted by state/tribe to determine eligibility criteria are met in accordance with OSMRE's Guidance Document. Step 5: OSMRE issues preliminary approval. Step 6: State/Tribe gathers environmental information and works with OSMRE to complete a NEPA analysis for each project. Step 7: OSMRE reviews environmental information and issues a NEPA decision document (ROD or FONSI) for each project. Step 8: State/Tribe submits a request for OSMRE’s Authorization to Proceed (ATP) for each project. Step 9: OSMRE reviews ATP request and issues ATP approval for each project. Step 10: State/Tribe spends AMLER funds on construction. Step 11: State/Tribe reports on performance measures for Annual AMLER Report. Step 12: AMLER project completed. Note: The reporting of performance measures by the states/tribes for the annual AMLER Report (Step 11), also continues after the project is completed (Step 12).

General AMLER Process for FY 2024 - FY 2025 Funding

Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program Process. Step 1: Congress announces annual AMLER funding as part of annual Appropriation Law. Step 2: OSMRE makes direct payments to eligible states/tribes. Step 3: States/Tribes solicit, compile, assess, and select potential projects. Step 4: States/Tribes reviews projects to determine eligibility criteria are met in accordance with OSMRE's Guidance Document. Step 5: States/Tribes meet applicable environmental statues (e.g. Endangered Species Act – section 10). Step 6: State/Tribe spends AMLER funds on construction. Step 7: AMLER Program subject to Single Audit and program specific audits. Step 8: States/Tribes may provide project details to include in OSMRE annual AMLER Report. Step 9: AMLER project completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance on Project Eligibility

For projects funded via FY 2024 and FY 2025 AMLER payments, view the Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the FY 2025 AMLER Program. This document provides an overview of the AMLER Program and eligibility requirements for AMLER projects funded exclusively by FY 2024 or FY 2025 payments.

For projects funded via AMLER grants (FY 2016 -  FY 2023), view the Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the FY 2023 AMLER Program.

Submission of Project Applications

AMLER project applications are submitted to state/Tribal AML Programs. For more information, see the links below.

AlabamaKentuckyOhio
PennsylvaniaVirginiaWest Virginia
Crow TribeHopi TribeNavajo Nation

 

Status of the AMLER Program and Projects

Refer to the report on the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program for FY 2016 – FY 2022 for information on the status of the program and specific projects.

AMLER Project Status

 

Yes, reference to the "Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Economic Development Pilot Program" (AML Pilot Program) changed to the "Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program" (AMLER Program) in March 2021 to realign with the language in the appropriation law (P.L. 116-260 - pages 308-309). The AMLER name refers to all years of the program (first funded in FY 2016). For continuity with older documents (e.g. reports and guidance documents prior to FY 2021), reference to AMLER will include context that it is also known as the AML Pilot Program.

Funding is allocated by Congress in the annual appropriations law (e.g. P.L. 117-328 - pages 313). Your State/Tribal AML Program will announce when project applications can be submitted.

In general, projects that create economic/community development on or adjacent to eligible abandoned mine land (may require reclamation or was previously reclaimed). For specific information and examples, view the Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the FY 2023 AMLER Program if utilizing funds from an AMLER grant or the Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the FY 2025 AMLER Program if utilizing funds from an AMLER payment.