PA AMLER — Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program

Federal-state grant program funding abandoned mine land reclamation projects that also produce community economic revitalization. Pennsylvania receives roughly $25M+ annually for AML cleanup tied to economic development.

The Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program is a federal grant program administered through OSMRE that provides Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, and a handful of tribal nations with significant annual funding for abandoned mine land reclamation projects that also generate clear community economic benefit. Pennsylvania has typically received in the range of $25 million per year, with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law adding billions more in regular AML reclamation funding through the Department of the Interior.Eligible projects include AMD treatment system construction, mine subsidence remediation, dangerous highwall and impoundment elimination, mine fire suppression, and mine waste removal — paired with downstream economic uses like recreation development, industrial site readiness, agricultural reclamation, or stream restoration that supports tourism. Applications come from county governments, conservation districts, watershed associations, and economic development organizations.For SW PA watershed groups working in coal country, AMLER is the single largest non-PENNVEST funding source for AMD treatment system construction. Pre-application coordination with PA DEP's Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation is essential — staff can help structure a project to score well on both reclamation and economic development criteria.