Environment Grants

Bureau of Land Management

The BLM and its partners inventory and mitigate abandoned mine hazards to protect public health and safety and the environment, and restore watersheds for recreation, fish, wildlife and domestic animals, manage air quality for the protection of public health and sensitive ecosystems, and return lands to productive uses including, but not limited to, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and preservation of historical/cultural resources. Extractive industry activities of the past, including underground and surface mining have contributed to degradation of natural resources. Unrestored sites pose a threat to the safety and health of public land users, as well as to wildlife, biota, groundwater, surface water, and soil resources.Inventory and mitigation measures are implemented through core programs such as the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program, which addresses physical safety hazards and contamination posing risks to human health and/or the environment. The BLM estimates there are over 160,000 abandoned mine features located on BLM-administered lands, many of which will need to be addressed further.The AML program identifies and inventories abandoned hardrock mines, prioritizes those mines that pose a risk to public safety, human health, and the environment, and seeks funding to address those high-risk mine features and sites. Specifically, the AML program addresses physical safety hazards through performing NEPA, including cultural and biological surveys, a variety of closure methods including fencing, signing, back-filling, installation of bat-friendly grates, etc., and addresses risks to human health and the environment through a variety of removal and remedial response actions. The AML program also work to restore abandoned hardrock mines sites and restore the Nation's watersheds impacted by abandoned mines through a risk-reduction based watershed approach that uses partnerships to effectively leverage funding and facilitate projects; and reduces environmental degradation caused by abandoned mines to ensure compliance with all applicable soil, water, and air quality standards, and applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws and regulations. For the NRDAR program, and any actions taken pursuant to BLM"s authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, potentially responsible parties must be investigated.The BLM seeks to develop partnerships with States, local governments, Tribal Nations, and voluntary environmental and citizen groups. In addition, BLM seeks to return lands to productive uses including, but not limited to, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and preservation of historical/cultural resources. These partnerships will provide financial assistance, through cooperative agreements to protect surface water, groundwater, soil, sediment and air from abandoned mine sites, address releases of hazardous substances, safeguard dangerous mine sites, and restore sites.

Bureau of Land Management

Wildland Fire Fuels Management and Community Assistance Program activities embody strategic investments in managing vegetation by reducing the intensity, severity, or negative effects of wildfire. These initiatives provide cost-effective benefits to the American people, help maintain and support communities in becoming fire adapted. Program activities include developing local capacities through assessment and planning, community and homeowner mitigation efforts, and implementation of fuels management treatments and activities. This involves training, monitoring, or implementing/maintaining fuels management on federal land or adjacent non-federal land to benefit federal resources, as well as assisting with wildfire prevention to mitigate risks to communities and their values. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has an opportunity to collaborate with partner organizations to support these efforts, reducing the intensity, severity, risk, and impact of catastrophic wildfires on local communities through coordination, hazardous fuel reduction, and further education on wildfire prevention. These activities help create jobs and advance conservation and restoration efforts through planning and implementation of hazardous fuels reduction projects. This work aligns with administration priorities by strengthening partnerships, encouraging local wildfire preparedness and mitigation, and empowering community-driven wildfire risk reduction, while generating revenue and utilizing natural resources to support the American economy.

Bureau of Land Management

Priority activities under this announcement include projects that support Executive Order (EO) 14225 Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production and Section 50301 of The One Big Beautiful Bill. This program focuses on activities that promote forest and woodland health, sustainable forest management, fire resiliency, biomass utilization for bioenergy, habitat conservation needs, and insect, disease and fire recovery on public lands. These activities could include, but are not limited to: planting trees, pre-commercial and commercial thinning, salvage/sanitation harvest, control of competing vegetation, fuels reduction, project development and layout, planning analysis and document preparation needed in concert with or to carry out NEPA, and Endangered Species Act or cultural clearances.

Bureau of Land Management

Public lands managed by the BLM offer exceptional and unique recreational experiences that benefit the American public while supporting local communities and their economies. The Recreation and Visitor Services Program is prioritizing the implementation of Administration priorities and key legislation, including the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act), the Great American Outdoors Act, and the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. In fiscal year 2026, the BLM will focus on supporting projects that align with administration priorities and these recreation related laws. It is essential to note that all project submissions must specifically enhance recreation and visitor services on BLM-managed public lands and improve the overall experience for BLM visitors to be considered for funding.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

<p>NRCS is announcing the availability of $3 million in WMBP grant funds for the development and establishment of mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands subject to the wetland conservation compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as amended). WMBP is a competitive grants program accepting proposals from eligible entities as identified in Section B.1. Priority will be given to banks in states with significant numbers of individual wetlands, wetland acres, and conservation compliance requests. Based on NRCS data, these states are Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.</p> <p><br></p> <p>A webinar for WMBP applicants is scheduled for July 30, 2026 at 3 pm Eastern Time. Information on how to participate in the Microsoft Teams webinar can be obtained through the following link:</p> <p><br></p> <p><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fevents.gcc.teams.microsoft.com%2Fevent%2F4685b4dd-a1ce-4ad6-81e3-d4318799cb11%40ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctessa.garcia%40usda.gov%7Cfe39385573e14554609908dee8d97814%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C639204217875138558%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=VNTut5pT2UtsToPpyjmhAGz1FgdrHj3Mh4X%2BfbdX8OI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/4685b4dd-a1ce-4ad6-81e3-d4318799cb11@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697</a></p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p>

National Park Service

The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) provides financial assistance to National Park Service (NPS) units, as well as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with Mexico. Several National Parks located along the U.S. border with Mexico have recently experienced serious resource damage due to illegal cross border activities including drug traffickers and undocumented persons traversing the parks. Other national park units within the desert southwest have also experienced impacts to their natural and cultural resources. Thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails have been created, major ecological processes and the migration patterns of wildlife have been disrupted, important historic sites have been vandalized, and archaeological sites have been looted. Program funding is available for conducting scientific research and monitoring of species, as well as conservation, interpretation and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border. Applicants must work with and benefit an NPS unit in the Intermountain Region along the U.S. – Mexico border as well as a protected area in Mexico by addressing cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. These parks include Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Palo Alto National Historic Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument. Please note that applicants can work with other Intermountain Region parks near the U.S. Mexico Border, or not otherwise listed to support cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. The projects and activities will be individually authorized by separate awards, with each project or activity having a separate work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the cooperator. Project categories include: Research & MonitoringCultural Resource examples:Identification, research, and evaluation of archeological and historic sitesNational Register of Historic Places nominationsNational Historic Landmark nominationsNatural Resource examples:Wildlife habitat managementInventory and monitoring of invasive plants and animalsImpacts from climate change to endangered speciesAssessments of the effects of border activities on threatened and endangered speciesConservation & PreservationCultural Resource examples:Stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic structures, archeological sites, trails and landsc

Bureau of Land Management

The BLM Wildlife Program, including the Sage-Grouse Conservation Program, implements statutory authorities to address the management of wildlife resources on the public lands for the social and economic well-being of all Americans. Specific BLM Wildlife Program priorities include: 1. protection, maintenance, and development of wildlife habitat; 2. wildlife reintroduction and propagation; 3. field study programs involving wildlife; 4. law enforcement; 5. educational programs; 6. toxicity/mortality investigations and monitoring; 7. wildlife damage management; 8. management activities affecting wildlife and their habitat. The BLM Wildlife Program works with partner organizations to meet the goals above on national, regional, or state-scales by:Implementing management actions such as the implementation of grassland, shrubland, forest, riparian, and other plant community treatments that fulfill statutory and legal requirements, align with approved land use plans, and support habitat objectives for priority wildlife species, including upland game, waterfowl, big game, non-game, and watchable wildlife.Collaborating with state fish and wildlife agencies, and other partners, on efforts that conserve and restore habitats in priority winter ranges and migration corridors for elk, deer, and pronghorn on BLM-managed lands, in support of Secretary's Order 3362 "Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors."Collecting and analyzing monitoring and inventory data on priority species and habitats including terrestrial and aquatic plant communities, to assess status and trends, inform plan implementation, improve management effectiveness, and support Administration priorities.Enhancing efficiency by integrating and sharing coordinated wildlife and habitat monitoring data to streamline decision-making and management actions.Coordinating with state agencies and other partners to support recovery and augmentation of species identified in State Wildlife Action Plans through proactive, voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts.Collaborating with state agencies and other partners under the Sikes Act to develop and implement fish and wildlife conservation and habitat improvement projects, including grassland, shrubland, forest, riparian, and other plant community treatments.Developing and implementing activity plans and Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) in partnership with state agencies and other partners to address habitat needs for regionally important species, including big game, waterfowl, upland game, and non-game species. Providing wildlife habitat management training opportunities to support effective plan implementation, meet legal mandates, and advance agency and Administration priorities.The following Administration priorities are applicable to this program:Executive Order (EO) 13443, Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife ConservationEO 14192 - Unleashing Prosperity Through DeregulationEO 14303 - Restoring Gold Standard ScienceEO 14225 - Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production EO 14313 - Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again CommissionSO 3356 - Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and TerritoriesSO 3362 - Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration CorridorsSO 3421 - Achieving Prosperity through DeregulationSO 3447 - Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Department of the Interior Lands and WatersOne Big Beautiful Act, H.R. 1, 119th Cong. (2025)

Bureau of Land Management

The BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program (T&E) focuses on conservation and recovery of endangered, threatened and BLM Sensitive Species (collectively referred to as BLM Special Status Species) and their habitats to help inform a balance of multiple uses of BLM-managed lands, including the Nation"s need for domestic sources of energy, minerals, timber, grazing, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat for future generations. The T&E Program emphasizes implementing the Department of Interior"s priorities by emphasizing actions that help streamline permitting processes and reduce regulatory requirements for authorizations on land uses such as minerals, energy, timber, grazing, and recreation. Overall, this can be achieved by: 1. Conserving and recovering species and their habitats to help delist or help preclude the need to list species as endangered and threatened, thereby reducing future regulations and 2. Improving available information and data that can be used to support approval permits and authorizations. To meet these goals, the BLM T&E Program is seeking opportunities to work with partner organizations to increase program efficiencies and effectiveness. The following Administration priorities are applicable to this program:Executive Order (EO) 13443, Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife ConservationEO 14192 - Unleashing Prosperity Through DeregulationEO 14303 - Restoring Gold Standard ScienceEO 14225 - Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production EO 14313 - Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again CommissionSO 3356 - Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and TerritoriesSO 3362 - Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration CorridorsSO 3421 - Achieving Prosperity through DeregulationSO 3447 - Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Department of the Interior Lands and WatersEndangered Species Act of 1973 (signed December 28, 1973) (16 USC § 1531)Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC § 703-712)Sikes Act of 1960-Conservation Programs on Military Installations (amended in 1974 to include Conservation on Public Land (Public Law 93-452) (16 USC § 670) One Big Beautiful Act (H.R. 1, 119th Congress, 2025)