Science and Technology Projects Related to Coal Mining and Reclamation

The goal of the OSMRE Applied Science Program is to develop and demonstrate improved science based technologies to address environmental, and restoration topics related to the mining of coal. This is a discretionary Program, and its further funding and direction are subject to Congressional Appropriations and Administration Priorities. The first objective to help us meet this goal is to develop technical tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of regulatory authorities in permitting coal mines and administering their federally approved regulatory program. A second objective is to examine the potential for new technologies that can aid in the protection of the public and the environment during mining and reclamation. A third objective is to provide opportunities for college and university students to participate in research projects related to coal mining and reclamation issues in order to build a pool of qualified potential applicants for future implementation of SMCRA.

Applied Science Projects: Recipients may be any of the following: public, private, or non-profit entities; Federal, State, local or Tribal governments; and colleges and universities located in the United States.

• Applications must be submitted through grant.gov in response to a NOFO. Application receive by the deadline will be reviewed to determine whether they are eligible, complete, and responsive and aligned with the respective program objectives and research grant areas as described in the Program Description
• Applications determined to be ineligible, incomplete, and/or non-responsive based on the initial screening will be eliminated from further review.
• Applications that are determined to be eligible, complete, and responsive will proceed for full merit reviews in accordance with the review and selection processes set forth below for each of the respective programs.
• At least three objective reviewers, knowledgeable in the subject matter of this NOFO and its objectives, will evaluate each application based on the evaluation criteria
• Each reviewer will assign individual scores to each criterion for each application.
• The scores provided by each reviewer for each application will then be combined to form a composite score for each application, which serves as the basis for the relative ordering or ranking of applications.
• OSMRE may select some, all, or none of the applications, or part(s) of any particular application.
• The OSMRE Field Directors or his/her designee approves financial assistance award funded at Regional or Local Office.

The criteria used to evaluate and select proposal will be based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, provisions of appropriation laws, reports, and as otherwise specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.