States and Tribes to lead projects restoring land and water in historic mining regions.
The Department of the Interior recently announced nearly $725 million in funding for fiscal year 2025 to support the cleanup of abandoned coal mines across 22 states and the Navajo Nation. Managed by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), the funding is to address safety hazards, restore clean water, and repurpose former mine lands for new economic development.
The initiative aligns with the President’s administration’s energy and revitalization priorities, focusing on investing in historically coal-dependent communities. Grant amounts are based on historic coal production levels with Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Illinois receiving the largest shares.
“Working with our state and tribal partners to restore abandoned mine lands confirms our commitment to the communities that powered our country for generations,” said OSMRE Regional Director Thomas Shope. “Rather than leaving these lands to waste, we are putting them back to work for the American people.”
Each state and tribe will determine and manage its own projects to meet local needs. The effort underscores a broader federal strategy to streamline infrastructure work, promote job creation, and support environmental restoration.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Acting Director Shope as he oversees the allotment of funding to reclaim abandoned mine lands.
- For wisdom for state officials and tribal leaders as they utilized the funding to improve economic opportunities and environmentally restore lands.
Sources: Department of the Interior
