Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (MDTI) Cooperative Agreement Program | S20AS00009

Opportunity Information: Apply for S20AS00009

The Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (MDTI) Cooperative Agreement Program is a discretionary funding opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). MDTI, formerly called the Acid Mine Drainage Initiative, is set up as a collaborative forum to support research and information-sharing focused on acidic and toxic mine drainage (often shortened to MD). The overall intent is to strengthen the scientific and practical tools used to anticipate, prevent, measure, and fix mine drainage problems that can harm water quality and surrounding ecosystems, particularly in contexts related to coal mining and reclamation.

At its core, the opportunity seeks studies that advance understanding of how acidic and toxic mine drainage forms and behaves, so regulators and industry can better predict and avoid problems before they occur, monitor conditions more effectively, and remediate existing impacts more reliably. A major emphasis is on producing results that are usable in real-world decision-making: improving the effectiveness of the coal industry in carrying out surface mining and reclamation activities, and improving the effectiveness of regulatory authorities responsible for overseeing and regulating coal mining. In other words, OSMRE is looking for work that translates into better environmental outcomes and better-informed permitting, operations, and reclamation practices by clarifying mine drainage risks and responses.

The program highlights several specific goal areas. One is developing a stronger scientific understanding of acidic and toxic mine drainage to improve prediction, avoidance, monitoring, and remediation. Another is encouraging innovative solutions to mine-drainage-driven water-quality problems, which can include new treatment approaches, improved system designs, or novel monitoring and assessment methods. The opportunity also calls for identifying, evaluating, and developing "best science" practices that can be used to predict the likelihood and severity of acidic and toxic mine drainage prior to mining, which directly supports smarter planning and prevention. Finally, it seeks to identify successful remediation practices for existing sources of acidic and toxic mine drainage and to describe the best technologies available for preventing mine drainage in the first place, reinforcing the program's balance between prevention and cleanup.

This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number S20AS00009) uses a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement in the project compared to a standard grant, such as participating in project coordination, technical direction, or review. It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, and it is associated with CFDA number 15.255. The published award ceiling is $200,000, with an expectation of one award, indicating a relatively focused, single-project competition rather than a broad multi-award program cycle.

Eligible applicants include state governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). The opportunity was created on May 15, 2020, with an original closing date of July 15, 2020. Overall, MDTI is essentially aimed at funding practical, science-driven studies that help stakeholders better understand and manage the environmental challenges posed by acidic and toxic mine drainage, with clear relevance to coal mining regulation, reclamation performance, and environmental protection.

• The Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (MDTI) Cooperative Agreement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.255.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 15, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for S20AS00009

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: