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Abandoned Mine Hazard Mitigation
An estimated 3,100 AML sites with 8,400 individual features exist in 127 units of the National Park System.
AML features include deep underground mine openings, surface mine pits, and unplugged orphaned
AML sites often pose severe human safety hazards, environmental contamination, and usually have disturbances to land, vegetation and related ecosystems.
AML sites often provide critical habitat for protected and/or sensitive wildlife species such as bats and desert tortoise.
Many AML sites are protected cultural sites.
The AML Program mitigates AML sites throughout the national park system.
Mitigation can involve: "bate gate" installation, plugging mine openings with polyurethane foam and earthen backfill, and site restoration through reshaping the land surface and planting native vegetation.
Fiscal Year 2008: Seal Mine and Remove Hazardous Structures to Improve Visitor Safety; Close Hazardous Mine to Improve Visitor Safety and Restore Natural Landscape; and Install Gate to Protect Visitors and Preserve Habitat at Remote Locations.
Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
- NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECOVERY ACT Inventory and Perform Mine Closures at Multiple Parks
- RECOVERY - Perform Initial Temporary Mine Closures (Multiple Projects, MOJA 153199, TAS 10-1041
- RECOVERY Plug two oil and gas wells and restore the natural landscape, BITH 148162, 14-1041. This project will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and is subject to the reporting requirements of the Act.
- Recovery National Park Service Developing and Managing GIS base Database and Tools for Abandoned Mines Lands Sites
The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to the Nation's natural and cultural heritage, including responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. Departmental goals include resource protection and usage, overseeing recreational opportunities, serving communities and excellence in management.
Dave Steensen, Geologic Resource Division, National Park Service, Denver Colorado.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
For ARRA funded projects the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be followed and incorporated, as necessary, within the opportunity announcement and agreement documents.
Applicant entity must have expertise in hazard mine mitigation in natural areas or research support for remediation plan development.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals): Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land).
Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals: Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land).
Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments: Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land).
Anyone/general public: Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land)
Beneficiary Eligibility
State; Local; Sponsored organization; Public nonprofit institution/organization; Other public institution/organization; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; Profit organization; Private nonprofit institution/organization; Quasi-public nonprofit organization; Other private institution/organization; Scientist/Researchers
Credentials/Documentation
Examples of prior work in technical area of mine mitigation in natural areas or specific resource expertise to develop mitigation plans. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. A completed SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and other material are required by the Funding Opportunity Announcement - these will be announced upon funding availability and project needs. The standard application forms required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subparts C and F, must be used. Applications will be made available on www.grants.gov.
Award Procedures
Timely submissions will be reviewed in relationship to the evaluation criteria specified in the opportunity announcement. Awards will be made in the form of a cooperative agreement.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5; Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, Title III, Section 301, Public Law 110-229, 122 Stat. ; Conservation, 16 U.S.C 1g.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 30 to 60 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Recipients may request renewal of existing projects or additional projects to meet program goals and objectives. The National Park Service will make awards based on mission needs and priorities. Renewals are contingent upon available appropriations to the program.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is provided on a project basis and released on a reimbursable basis as costs are incurred. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Not available.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program reports are not applicable.
Cash reports are not applicable.
Progress reports are not applicable.
Financial reports SF-425 will be required in conjunction with requests for Reimbursement SF-270.
The requirements for interim and final reports will be specified in the agreement.
Recipients of ARRA funded agreements will be required to report the performance progress on a quarterly basis within ten (10) calendar days of the end of the quarter.
Current user registration and instructions is provided at Recovery.gov.
Recipients are required to report data directly into www.FederalReporting.gov.
If sub-recipients are in receipt of these funds, additional information will be required by the recipient to report the data in www.FederalReporting.gov regarding the sub-recipient.
These reports will be made publicly available.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Recipients will maintain records in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12 and 2 CFR Part 176 for ARRA funded projects.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1401-1-1-303 - TAS 1409/101041.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $4,000,000; FY 10 est $7,000,000 - FY 2011 projected projects total $500,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$11,000 to $1.4 million. It is anticipated that 25 projects will receive assistance in 2009.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Department of the Interior regulations regarding financial assistance is 43 CFR Part 12.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None. Dave Steensen, Geologic Resource Division, National Park Service, Denver Colorado.
Headquarters Office
Dave Steensen National Park Service, Geologic Resource Division, Abandoned Mine Land Program, National Resource Program Center, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225-0287 Email: Dave_Steensen@nps.gov Phone: (303)969-2014
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
For ARRA funded projects, the evaluation criteria also address the following priorities established for Title IV: (a) Programs, projects, or activities that can be obligated and executed quickly; (b) Programs, projects, or activities that will result in high, immediate employment; (c) Programs, projects, or activities that have little schedule risk; (d) Programs, projects, or activities that will will be executed by contract or direct hire of temporary labor; and (e) Programs, projects, or activities that will complete either a project phase, a project, or will provide a useful service that does not require additional funding.
In addition, the project will meet the guidelines established by the NPS AML program. These guidelines are available at Handbook for Remediation of Abandoned Mineral Lands. The proposed cost estimates for the mine mitigation under the abandoned mine land assistance should appear reasonable and necessary for the proposed work. The proposal must be received by NPS by the announced deadline. The proposed agreement for mitigation of abandoned mine lands should be a technically well planned proposal and the proposed work likely to achieve a quality mitigation procedure in order to receive the assistance.
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