The Department of the Interior has announced a $3.7 million investment to aid states in addressing abandoned hardrock mine lands across the United States. This funding is part of the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) grant program, initiated by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Abandoned hardrock mines are significant environmental concerns, contributing to contamination in 40% of rivers and 50% of lakes nationwide, affecting communities reliant on these water sources.
"Communities across the country are experiencing the impacts from improperly abandoned hardrock mines, like contaminated drinking water," stated Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Joan Mooney. She emphasized that this initiative will not only clean up affected areas but also generate jobs and rejuvenate local communities.
The Interior Department has identified over 700,000 abandoned mine features throughout the country, with approximately 86% linked to historical hardrock mining activities. These features include open shafts and pits that pose threats to human safety and environmental health.
The AHMR Program aims to enhance public safety and improve environmental quality by mitigating the adverse effects of past mining activities such as gold, silver, lead, and uranium extraction. The program supports various reclamation activities based on public health needs and environmental priorities.
State grants begin at $50,000, with applications open until February 28, 2025. Interested parties can apply through GrantSolutions under opportunity number D-AQD-FA-25-005.
Further details about the AHMR Program can be found on the U.S. Department of the Interior's website.