Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program: Difference between revisions

The '''Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program''' (AMLER), launched in 2016 by the Department of the Interior through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), supports six Appalachian states—Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia—and three Tribes (Crow, Hopi, Navajo) with over $1 billion in grants by 2025 to reclaim abandoned coal mines and spur economic redevelopment. Initially funded with $90 million as a pilot under the POWER Initiative, AMLER has awarded funds annually—e.g., $130 million in FY 2024—supporting projects like Pennsylvania’s botanic garden expansion and Virginia’s solar farms, though only 29% of funds were spent by 2024 due to lengthy OSMRE review processes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.osmre.gov/programs/abandoned-mine-land-economic-revitalization-amler-program |title=AMLER Program |publisher=Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement}}</ref> It complements the $11.3 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law AML investments, advancing sustainable reuse without a set end date.