Opportunity Information: Apply for L26AS00053
The FY26 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Abandoned Mine Lands and Hazardous Materials - Bureau wide funding opportunity (Opportunity No. L26AS00053) supports projects that reduce public safety risks and environmental harm from abandoned hardrock mines and related hazardous materials issues on BLM-managed lands. The overall goal is to identify, prioritize, and mitigate hazards left behind by historic extractive industries, including both underground and surface mining, where unrestored sites can threaten visitors and nearby communities while also damaging wildlife, plants, groundwater, surface water, soil, and broader watershed health. This program is designed to help restore affected lands and watersheds for practical, long-term public benefits such as recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, domestic animal use, and protection of historic and cultural resources, while also supporting air quality management to protect public health and sensitive ecosystems.
A major focus is the BLM Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program, which is the core mechanism for addressing physical safety hazards and contamination that pose risks to human health or the environment. BLM estimates there are more than 160,000 abandoned mine features on BLM-administered lands, and many will require additional work. Projects under this program typically start with identifying and inventorying abandoned mine features, then prioritizing sites that present the highest risk. Funding is aimed at moving those high-priority sites from assessment into on-the-ground mitigation and restoration, with an emphasis on risk reduction and measurable outcomes.
Supported work can include National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance and associated field surveys, including cultural resource and biological surveys that are commonly needed before remediation or closure activities occur. On the physical safety side, eligible closure and hazard reduction methods can include fencing, posting signs, backfilling, installing bat-friendly gates or grates on mine openings, and other engineering or administrative controls intended to prevent accidents and reduce exposure. On the environmental side, projects may involve removal actions and remedial response activities intended to address releases of hazardous substances and reduce contamination risks to water, soils, sediments, and air. The program also emphasizes restoration of abandoned mine sites and watershed-scale improvements through a risk-reduction based watershed approach, using partnerships to leverage funding and deliver coordinated projects. The intent is to reduce ongoing environmental degradation from abandoned mines and to support compliance with applicable soil, water, and air quality standards, along with relevant Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws and regulations.
The opportunity also references work connected to NRDAR and actions taken under BLM authority through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Where applicable, the notice highlights that potentially responsible parties must be investigated, reflecting the expectation that liability and cost responsibility considerations may be part of certain hazardous materials or contamination response efforts, depending on site circumstances and the legal framework for the specific action.
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, signaling that BLM expects substantial involvement and coordination with recipients during project planning and delivery rather than a hands-off pass-through grant. The program is explicitly partnership-driven and seeks to work with States, local governments, Tribal Nations, and voluntary environmental and citizen groups to plan and implement projects that safeguard dangerous mine sites, address hazardous substance releases, and restore impacted lands and watersheds. By design, these cooperative efforts are meant to stretch limited funds further and ensure projects align with local needs, regulatory requirements, and BLM land management objectives.
Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit entities and certain educational institutions. Eligible applicants include State governments; county, city, or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations; public and State-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply under this notice.
A notable restriction is that this programmatic NOFO does not support hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The notice clarifies that Public Lands Corps is the specific authority that allows BLM to hire interns under that framework, and that Youth Conservation Corps-type proposals should instead be pursued under the separate funding opportunity identified as NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
From a funding and timeline perspective, this is a discretionary opportunity under CFDA 15.236 within the Natural Resources activity category. The expected number of awards is three, with an award ceiling of $1,500,000. The original application closing date is August 28, 2026, and the opportunity was created on July 27, 2026.Apply for L26AS00053
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 Bureau of Land Management Abandoned Mine Lands and Hazardous Materials - Bureau wide" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.236.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY26 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Abandoned Mine Lands and Hazardous Materials - Bureau wide funding opportunity (Opportunity No. L26AS00053). It supports projects on BLM-managed lands that reduce public safety risks and environmental harm from abandoned hardrock mines and related hazardous materials issues.
2) What is the overall goal of the program?
The overall goal is to identify, prioritize, and mitigate hazards left behind by historic extractive industries (including underground and surface mining). The program aims to reduce threats to visitors and nearby communities and to limit damage to wildlife, plants, groundwater, surface water, soil, and watershed health.
3) What kinds of public benefits is BLM trying to achieve?
The program is designed to restore affected lands and watersheds for practical, long-term public benefits such as recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, domestic animal use, and protection of historic and cultural resources. It also supports air quality management to protect public health and sensitive ecosystems.
4) What is the BLM Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program and how does it relate to this NOFO?
A major focus of this opportunity is the BLM Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program, which is BLM's core mechanism for addressing physical safety hazards and contamination that pose risks to human health or the environment on BLM-managed lands.
5) Why is this program needed (what is the scope of the problem)?
BLM estimates there are more than 160,000 abandoned mine features on BLM-administered lands, and many will require additional work. Unrestored sites can present serious physical hazards and cause ongoing environmental degradation.
6) What is the typical project workflow that this funding supports?
Projects under this program typically start with identifying and inventorying abandoned mine features, then prioritizing sites that present the highest risk. Funding is aimed at moving high-priority sites from assessment into on-the-ground mitigation and restoration, emphasizing risk reduction and measurable outcomes.
7) Does the program support NEPA-related work?
Yes. Supported work can include National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance and associated field surveys, including cultural resource and biological surveys that are commonly needed before remediation or closure activities occur.
8) What are examples of eligible physical safety hazard reduction activities?
Eligible closure and hazard reduction methods can include fencing, posting signs, backfilling, installing bat-friendly gates or grates on mine openings, and other engineering or administrative controls intended to prevent accidents and reduce exposure.
9) What are examples of eligible environmental or hazardous materials response activities?
Projects may include removal actions and remedial response activities intended to address releases of hazardous substances and reduce contamination risks to water, soils, sediments, and air.
10) Is watershed-scale restoration part of this opportunity?
Yes. The program emphasizes restoration of abandoned mine sites and watershed-scale improvements through a risk-reduction based watershed approach, using partnerships to leverage funding and deliver coordinated projects.
11) What does the program mean by a partnership-driven approach?
The opportunity is designed to work with States, local governments, Tribal Nations, and voluntary environmental and citizen groups to plan and implement projects. These cooperative efforts are intended to leverage limited funds and help ensure projects align with local needs, regulatory requirements, and BLM land management objectives.
12) What is the expectation for compliance with laws and standards?
The intent includes supporting compliance with applicable soil, water, and air quality standards, along with relevant Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws and regulations.
13) Will BLM be actively involved after an award is made?
Yes. Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which signals that BLM expects substantial involvement and coordination with recipients during project planning and delivery (rather than a hands-off pass-through grant).
14) Does this opportunity connect to CERCLA activities?
Yes. The opportunity references actions taken under BLM authority through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), where applicable.
15) Does the opportunity mention NRDAR?
Yes. The notice references work connected to NRDAR, where applicable.
16) Are potentially responsible parties (PRPs) part of the program considerations?
Where applicable, the notice highlights that potentially responsible parties must be investigated. This reflects an expectation that liability and cost responsibility considerations may be part of certain hazardous materials or contamination response efforts, depending on site circumstances and the legal framework for the specific action.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit entities and certain educational institutions. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County, city, or township governments
- Special district governments
- Federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
18) Who is not eligible to apply?
Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply under this notice.
19) Can applicants use this funding to hire interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act?
No. This programmatic NOFO does not support hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993.
20) If we want to propose Youth Conservation Corps-type work, where should we apply?
Youth Conservation Corps-type proposals should be pursued under the separate funding opportunity identified as NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
21) What type of award will be made?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements.
22) What is the CFDA number and activity category for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary opportunity under CFDA 15.236 within the Natural Resources activity category.
23) How many awards does BLM expect to make?
The expected number of awards is three.
24) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,500,000.
25) When is the application due date?
The original application closing date is August 28, 2026.
26) When was the opportunity posted/created?
The opportunity was created on July 27, 2026.
27) What types of mine sites and hazards are covered?
The opportunity covers hazards from abandoned hardrock mines and related hazardous materials issues on BLM-managed lands, including hazards from historic underground and surface mining activities.
28) What outcomes does BLM emphasize for funded projects?
BLM emphasizes moving high-priority sites from assessment into on-the-ground mitigation and restoration, with an emphasis on risk reduction and measurable outcomes.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Previous opportunity: FY 2026 PIPELINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT (PERG)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for L26AS00053
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (L26AS00053) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY26 Bureau of Land Management Recreation and Visitor Services - Bureau wide Apply for L26AS00048 Funding Number: L26AS00048 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| FY26 Bureau of Land Management Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance - Bureau wide Apply for L26AS00061 Funding Number: L26AS00061 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program Apply for USDA FS 2026 CFP Funding Number: USDA FS 2026 CFP Agency: Forest Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| FY26 Bureau of Land Management Plant Conservation and Restoration Management - Bureau wide Apply for L26AS00050 Funding Number: L26AS00050 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Forest Legacy Program - FY2028 Funding Apply for USDA FS 2028 FLP Funding Number: USDA FS 2028 FLP Agency: Forest Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| FY26 Bureau of Land Management Wildlife Resource Management Program - Bureau wide Apply for L26AS00045 Funding Number: L26AS00045 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| FY26 Bureau of Land Management Threatened and Endangered Species - Bureau wide Apply for L26AS00043 Funding Number: L26AS00043 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "L26AS00053", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.