Summary: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is the federal agency responsible for the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program established by Title IV of SMCRA. OSMRE distributes AML grant funding to states including Pennsylvania, administers the AMLER (Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization) Program, and oversees state AML programs. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized an additional $11.3 billion in federal AML funding through 2036 — one of the most significant investments in the history of the program.
The Federal AML Program #
OSMRE collects a reclamation fee on each ton of coal produced and distributes those funds to states and tribes with approved AML programs. As of September 2025, the AML Fund has collected $14.2 billion and distributed $6.6 billion since 1977. Pennsylvania, with one of the largest concentrations of unreclaimed AML in the country, is among the highest-need recipients.
The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorized $11.3 billion in additional AML funding to be distributed over 15 years through November 2036, based on historic coal production. Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia — the three states with the highest legacy burden — receive the largest allocations. This generational investment creates significant new capacity for AML reclamation and AMD treatment in Pennsylvania.
AMLER Program #
The Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program connects AML reclamation to economic and community development. Pennsylvania receives approximately $28.7 million annually through AMLER. Projects funded through AMLER must demonstrate a nexus between AML reclamation and economic revitalization — returning legacy mine sites to productive community use.
OSMRE Pittsburgh Field Office #
OSMRE’s Pittsburgh Field Office provides oversight of Pennsylvania’s AML and regulatory programs and is the primary OSMRE contact for PA practitioners. Website: https://www.osmre.gov/about/offices
How to Connect #
OSMRE national: https://www.osmre.gov/
AML Program: https://www.osmre.gov/programs/reclaiming-abandoned-mine-lands
AMLER Program: https://www.osmre.gov/programs/reclaiming-abandoned-mine-lands/amler
Community organizations typically access OSMRE funding through PA DEP BAMR — contact BAMR as your first point of contact for project funding questions.
Related Pages #
Source and Last Reviewed: osmre.gov; OSMRE FY2026 Budget Justification; IIJA (P.L. 117-58, 2021); PA DEP AML Funding page. Last reviewed: 2026-03.
Tags: policy, funding, program-manager, legislator, aml, amd, pa
