Across the United States, thousands of abandoned mine lands (AML) continue to impact water quality, public safety, and community health. The scale is daunting: the national cleanup need is estimated at $25 billion.
The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created a turning point. With $12 billion in federal AML funding available through 2036, states and communities now have resources to address hazards that have lingered for decades. However, with opportunity comes urgency; funding must be deployed quickly, and projects need to deliver measurable results that last.
The challenge behind the funding
The AML problem is not just financial; it is structural and nationwide. Billions of dollars are flowing through federal programs, yet without the capacity to design, advance, and deliver projects within federal timelines, many states risk returning significant portions of this funding unspent.
At the same time, true reclamation costs consistently exceed available budgets. Nationwide damages from abandoned mines are estimated in the tens of billions of dollars, far beyond allocated resources. Outdated inventories, administrative hurdles, and limited technical capacity add further barriers, preventing projects from moving at the pace required.
This reality means reclamation must go beyond simply filling holes and capping waste. It must create lasting environmental, social, and economic value by restoring ecosystems, improving water quality, stabilizing dangerous features, and opening new possibilities for impacted communities.
From liabilities to assets
When done well, AML reclamation can transform communities. Beyond stabilizing land and treating acid mine drainage, projects can:
- Restore native ecosystems and biodiversity
- Improve water quality and flood resilience
- Provide short-term construction jobs and lasting community benefits through recreation and tourism
This shift, from liability to asset, changes how communities see mine lands. Reclamation becomes not just cleanup, but a chance to leave behind landscapes that support both nature and people.
Tools for transformation
Achieving this vision requires new approaches to how projects are delivered. States and agencies are beginning to test tools such as:
- Design-Build Delivery: consolidating planning and construction into one contract, cutting administrative costs by up to 50% and shortening timelines by more than a third.
- Outcomes-Based Contracting: tying payments to measurable results, shifting risk away from agencies, and ensuring accountability.
By modernizing procurement, more projects can move from planning to completion within the limited funding window. These tools not only help communities see benefits sooner, but they also directly address the most pressing risk: returning unused funding.
