AERO Education Grant Program

The WVDEP’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation (AML) administers the AMLER Program, a federal funding initiative designed to support economic development projects on abandoned mine lands. This program aligns with the foundational mission of protecting public health, safety, and property, and restoring land and water resources degraded by past coal mining practices. It specifically targets projects located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations before the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act was signed, addressing environmental liabilities and fostering economic revitalization in affected communities. The target beneficiaries of the AMLER Program are communities and environments impacted by abandoned mine lands. The primary impact goals include mitigating extreme dangers posed by coal mining practices, enhancing public health and safety, and rehabilitating natural resources. This involves the conservation and development of soil, water, woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation resources, and agricultural productivity. The program aims to transform former mine sites into productive assets, thereby improving the overall well-being and economic prospects of the regions. The program's priorities are directly established by SMCRA, focusing on three key areas. Firstly, it prioritizes the protection of public health, safety, and property from the extreme dangers and adverse effects of coal mining. Secondly, it emphasizes the broader protection of public health and safety from all adverse effects of such practices. Thirdly, a significant focus is on the restoration of land and water resources and the environment that has been previously degraded by these mining activities. This holistic approach ensures that both immediate dangers and long-term environmental damage are addressed. Eligibility criteria for the AMLER Program extend to noncoal lands and water if they were mined or affected by mining processes, abandoned in an unreclaimed or inadequately reclaimed condition prior to August 3rd, 1977, and lack ongoing reclamation responsibility from an operator or the state. The reclamation must be requested by the Governor or equivalent tribal head and be necessary to protect public health, safety, general welfare, and property from extreme dangers of adverse effects of noncoal mining practices. These stringent criteria ensure that funding is directed to areas with the most critical needs and clear justification for intervention. Expected outcomes of the AMLER Program include enhanced public safety through the removal of hazards, improved environmental quality through land and water restoration, and stimulated economic development in historically affected areas. Measurable results would include the number of acres reclaimed, the reduction in reported hazards, improvements in water and soil quality, and the creation of new recreational or agricultural opportunities. The program's strategic priorities are rooted in a theory of change where targeted investment in abandoned mine land reclamation directly leads to environmental recovery, public safety improvements, and sustainable economic growth for communities that have historically borne the brunt of mining's adverse effects.