BLM CA Statewide Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Project | L20AS00098

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00098

The BLM CA Statewide Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Project is a California-focused Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funding opportunity aimed at reducing dangers and environmental damage left behind by historic mining on public lands. The core goal is to protect public health and safety while restoring watersheds so that water quality improves and the land can better support multiple uses, including recreation (such as hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching), grazing and agricultural activities where appropriate, and the preservation of historical and cultural resources. The opportunity recognizes that past mineral extraction across California has resulted in abandoned mine features and degraded watersheds that continue to threaten people and ecosystems.

A major emphasis of the project is addressing abandoned mine hazards such as open or unstable shafts and adits (mine entrances). These sites can create immediate physical risks to visitors and nearby communities, and they can also cause longer-term environmental problems by contaminating groundwater, surface water, and soils. The project supports systematic surveying of potential problem sites on public lands, followed by mitigation actions to reduce or eliminate both physical hazards and environmental threats. In practice, this can include closing or securing mine openings and implementing remediation measures that help stabilize and protect surrounding land and water resources.

This effort is structured as a partnership between the BLM California State Office and the State of California Department of Natural Resources, specifically its Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The grant supports collaborative work that builds shared expertise, data, and implementation capacity, with the intent of strengthening a consistent and effective mine closure and remediation program statewide. By combining resources and coordinating across agencies, the project aims to accelerate hazard reduction work that improves land health and makes public lands safer and more accessible.

The expected benefits include improved visitor safety, enhanced wildlife habitat conditions, and better watershed protection that supports fisheries and broader recreational uses. Overall, the project is designed to reduce legacy mining impacts while increasing safe public access to affected areas through appropriate safety measures and environmental remediation.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, using a cooperative agreement funding instrument (meaning the agency expects to remain actively involved in the project). The opportunity number is L20AS00098, listed under CFDA 15.236, and eligibility is limited to state governments. The posting was created on April 22, 2020, with an original closing date of May 6, 2020. Funding is structured as a single anticipated award (expected awards: 1) with an award ceiling of up to $8,000,000.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA Statewide Abandoned Mine Lands 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 Apr 22, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 06, 2020. (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 $8,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for L20AS00098

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