Grant Community.com

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

15.250:  Regulation of Surface Coal Mining and Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining

Popular Name: 

Objectives:  To protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations consistent with assuring the coal supply essential to the Nation's energy requirements.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

15.250 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  State governor and small coal mine operators (SOAP grants only).

Beneficiary Eligibility:  State agencies responsible for regulation, reclamation and enforcement of provisions protecting the environment from negative effects of coal mining operations. Coal mining operators with annual production of less than 300,000 tons total at all mining locations may apply to State or Federal regulatory authorities for assistance in meeting certain technical permit application requirements.

Credentials/Documentation:  The Governor of a State designates an agency to act as recipient of the grant or funded cooperative agreement.

15.250 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:  The standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be used for this program. State Regulatory grant applicants are required to submit applications to their appropriate Regional/OSM Field Office. Small operators are required to submit assistance applications to the applicable State agency or to OSM for Federal program States. Both State and small operator applications must meet specific criteria described in the Federal Register, 30 CFR Part 725, 735 and 795. Copies of the regulations and application forms are available from the appropriate OSM Regional/Field Office.

Award Procedure:  Approval by the OSM Regional/Field Office is required and will be evidenced by a notice of award and entering an approved award in the grant payment electronic funds transfer process.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  60 days.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  Annual applications required for grants.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Designated agencies that choose to comply with the Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Provisions, Parts 725, 735, and 795 (Federal Register, Vol. 423, No. 239, Tuesday, December 13, 1977, Vol. 47, No. 169, August 31, 1982 and Vol. 48, No. 12, January 18, 1983), are eligible for awards. Criteria for amounts awarded are the State's need relative to other eligible States.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Governor-designated State agencies in coal producing States receive annual grants to assist in administering and enforcing the States' approved regulatory programs as provided by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Administration and Enforcement FY 99 $116,899 to $13,377,600; FY 00 est $107,400 to $12,760,571; and FY 2001 est $117,019 to $13,612,681. This represents an average of $2.1 million in FY 99; $2.1 million (est) in FY 00; and $2.3 million (est) in FY 2001.

15.250 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 15.252 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Program;
• 15.253 Not-for-Profit AMD Reclamation.

15.250 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

15.250 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants; Direct Payments for Specified Use.

Obligations:  FY 99 $50,656,000; FY 00 est $52,156,000; and FY 01 est $52,697,000. (Includes all cooperative agreements and State grants except SOAP grants.) Small Operator Assistance: FY 99 $1,500,000; FY 00 est $1,500,000; and FY 01 est $1,500,000.

Budget Account Number:  14-1801-0-1-302; 14-1802-0-1-302.

Authorization:  Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, 91 Stat. 445-532.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Federal Register, Volume 42, No. 62706, Tuesday, December 13, 1977 and Volume 47, No. 169, Tuesday, August 31, 1982, Volume 48, No. 12, Tuesday, January 18, 1983; and informal agency guidelines titled "Federal Assistance Manual."

15.250 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  See Catalog Appendix IV.

Headquarters Office:  Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20240. Contact: Chief, Division of Regulatory Support. Phone: (202) 208-2651. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

15.250 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Permanent program development grants and administration and enforcement grants are limited to 80 percent of costs in the first year, 60 percent in the second, and 50 percent thereafter. Operational grants for the SOAP and cooperative agreements are funded at 100 percent of authorized costs.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  All grants are annually renewable. Administration and enforcement grants are issued upon approval of a permanent program in the State.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Grants for permanent program development are available to fund staff and related costs in connection with preparing State legislative proposals; preparing State regulations; preparing permanent program applications to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM); and for other related purposes. Administration and enforcement grants are awarded to assist States that have received approval of permanent regulatory programs. Small Operator Assistance Program (SOAP) Operational grants are awarded to States and eligible individuals for contracting with qualified laboratories to provide hydrologic and geologic data on behalf of eligible small coal operators. Funded cooperative agreements provide for State regulation of coal mining activities on Federal lands. Technical assistance is available on any aspect of regulating surface impacts of coal mining.

15.250 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Semiannual reports as specified by the agency are required.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Records will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments."