U.S. Department of Interior's Investment Transforms Coal Communities Through AMLER Program
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has allocated $134 million in funding for the 2026 financial year through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. Since its inception in 2016, AMLER has been instrumental in revitalizing coal communities by transforming legacy mining sites into economic opportunities. The program supports workforce development, infrastructure, energy projects, and community-led redevelopment across Appalachia and tribal lands. This year, the funding is distributed among several states and tribes, including Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Alabama, Ohio, Virginia, the Crow Tribe, Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe. The projects funded by AMLER range from industrial development and workforce training to tourism and critical infrastructure, reflecting the unique needs of each community.