Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program

Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation

The Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program enhances public safety and improves water, soil, and air quality by reducing or eliminating the effects of past hardrock mining (such as gold, silver, lead, and uranium) across the United States through reclamation and remediation of abandoned mine lands (AMLs). The Environmental Compliance and Cleanup Division (ECCD) is responsible for managing the hardrock AML Programs for Federal, State and Tribal lands.

Section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Public Law No: 117-58), aka Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) establishes a federal program to inventory, assess, decommission, reclaim, respond to hazardous substance release on, and remediate hardrock AMLs based on conditions including public need, public health and safety, potential environmental harm, and other land use priorities. The AHMR Program consists of a Federal program for hardrock AMLs on lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture - Forest Service, as well as grant programs for States and Tribes. See below for more information about the three programs, the BIL legislation and the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance’s AML database.

Coal Mines.  Sections 40701 through 40703 of the BIL address abandoned mine land reclamation related to coal mining and are managed by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. 
 

  • AHMR Federal Program

    AHMR Federal Program

    The Environmental Compliance and Cleanup Division (ECCD) manages the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Federal Program in consultation with federal committee members.
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    AHMR State Grants Program

    Funding for Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) on state and private lands will be distributed through a grant program.
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    AHMR Tribal Grants Program

    Funding for Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) on Tribal lands will be distributed through a grant program managed by the Environmental Compliance and Cleanup Division (ECCD).
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