AML EMERGENCIES - FY26 Projects 10 possible emergencies

Emergency Projects: Emergency Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation projects are critical to protecting public health, safety, and property from the severe dangers posed by past coal mining practices. These hazards, including sudden subsidence and open mine shafts, can present imminent threats requiring immediate action. Failure to fund these projects places Oklahoma residents at risk of serious harm. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is responsible for enforcing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) on Tribal lands in Oklahoma. OSMRE now oversees an estimated $90 million in unfunded Priority 1 and Priority 2 AML projects on these lands. Since assuming full responsibility in FY 2021, OSMRE has continued its nationwide role in conducting AML reclamation on Tribal lands, including in Oklahoma, where emergencies can arise without warning in any county within the eastern half of the state.