OSMRE grants almost $120M to recover abandoned U.S. coal mines

[Ben Graham]

The US Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announced Monday nearly $120 million in fiscal year 2026 abandoned mine land reclamation fee-based grants for eligible states and tribes.  

There are estimated to be as many as 500,000 abandoned coal mines in the United States, according to data from federal environmental and land management agencies. Many of these sites were abandoned before 1977, when federal reclamation laws were established, and they pose safety, environmental, and health risks.   

This is critical funding that will help eliminate dangerous mine hazards, restore damaged lands, and strengthen coal communities across the nation, OSMRE said.  

These grants, authorized under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, protect public safety, support local economies, and help communities repurpose former mine lands for new and productive uses, OSMRE said.  

Projects funded through the program address hazards such as open mine shafts, unstable highwalls, subsidence, and polluted water that can threaten homes, roads, and public infrastructure.  

Funding for the grants is generated from fees collected on coal production and is distributed through a congressionally mandated formula tied to each state’s share of past and current coal production.  

Since 1977, OSMRE has distributed more than $6.5 billion in abandoned mine land fees collected to states and tribes.   

“The Abandoned Mine Lands Fee‑based grants remain one of our most effective tools for restoring communities impacted by legacy mining,” said Lanny E. Erdos, OSM Director Lanny E. Erdos said in a news release.  

“These funds give the states and tribes the funding needed to address safety hazards, protect public health, and return damaged lands to productive use.”    

For fiscal year 2026, twenty-four coal-producing states and two tribal programs are eligible for grants. A mandatory 5.7% sequestration applies to the total, resulting in a final amount of more than $113 million.   

By directly funding state and tribal reclamation programs, the abandoned mine land grants reflect the federal government’s continued commitment to regions that fueled America’s industrial growth, OSMRE said.  

States and tribes develop project proposals and oversee implementation, ensuring solutions are tailored to local needs.   

Fiscal Year 2026 Abandoned Mine Land Mandatory Grant Distribution includes Wyoming: $21.8 million; Pennsylvania: $18.9 million; West Virginia: $13.7 million; Illinois: $6.7 million; the Navajo Nation: $411,589 and the Crow Tribe: $28,154.  

The full list is here.