BLM Utah Statewide Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project | L17AS00226

Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00226

The BLM Utah Statewide Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00226) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), focused on natural resource and public safety work on Utah public lands. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means BLM expects to stay actively involved in the project rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.236 and was created on July 28, 2017, with an original closing date of August 4, 2017.

The purpose of the funding is to continue and expand a working partnership with the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (AMRP) to reduce physical safety hazards associated with abandoned mine sites, especially those that pose risks to people recreating on public lands. Many abandoned mines contain open shafts, unstable adits, hidden voids, and collapsing structures that can cause serious injury or death. Through this agreement, BLM Utah and the AMRP would coordinate their efforts so that as many hazardous features as possible can be identified, prioritized, and closed or otherwise mitigated. The underlying idea is that sharing staff capacity, expertise, equipment, and on-the-ground knowledge enables both parties to cover more sites and address hazards more efficiently than either could alone.

Beyond immediate physical hazard reduction, the project also emphasizes broader safety and environmental benefits at abandoned mine locations. While the description centers on public safety, it recognizes that abandoned mines can create additional issues, such as disturbed land features, potential contamination pathways, and ongoing site degradation. By continuing the partnership and pooling resources, BLM and the AMRP aim to strengthen their ability to respond to both safety concerns and related environmental impacts in a coordinated way across Utah.

A notable component of the opportunity is the continuation of public education efforts connected to abandoned mine safety. The program has previously produced materials such as safety videos and brochures, and the new agreement would support the ability to advance those outreach benefits. In practical terms, this means the project is not just about closing or securing physical hazards, but also about informing the public, encouraging safe recreation practices, and reducing the likelihood that people enter or approach dangerous mine features in the first place.

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to state governments, aligning with the programmatic nature of statewide reclamation and hazard mitigation work. The total award ceiling listed is $881,000, and BLM anticipated making up to five awards. Taken together, the grant is best understood as funding for a coordinated, statewide effort to identify and mitigate abandoned mine dangers on BLM-managed lands in Utah, combining field remediation work with public-facing education to improve long-term recreational safety and reduce risk.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM Utah Statewide Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project" 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 Jul 28, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 04, 2017. (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 $881,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for L17AS00226

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