DNRC Reclamation and Development Grants Program
Project Grant Application
Applications must be postmarked by and received in
https://funding.mt.gov by 5 pm on June 1, 2020
No late applications will be accepted.
General Information
The Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) is a state-funded grant program designed to fund projects that indemnify Montana citizens for the effects of mineral development on public resources and that meet other crucial state needs, serving the public interest and the total environment of the people of Montana. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) administers the program.
Program Purposes
The purposes of the RDGP are (1) to repair, reclaim, and mitigate environmental damage to public resources from non‑renewable resource extraction and (2) to develop and ensure the quality of public resources for the benefit of all Montana citizens.
Eligible Applicants
Any department, agency, board, commission, or other division of state government, city, county, or other division of local government, or tribal government within the state may apply.
Eligible Projects
Proposed projects must provide benefits in one of two categories: (1) mineral development impacts or (2) crucial state need. Mineral development impacts and crucial state need projects will be given equal preference in the ranking process. Projects not fitting into either of these categories will not be eligible for RDGP funding. DNRC will conduct a review and screening of all applications to determine eligibility under these two categories.
Mineral Development Impact Projects
Mineral Development Impact projects must achieve at least one of the following:
1. Reclaim land, water or other resources adversely affected by mineral development.
2. Mitigate damage to public resources caused by mineral development.
3. Research, demonstrate, or provide technical assistance to promote the wise use of Montana minerals, including efforts to make processing more environmentally compatible.
4. Investigate and remediate sites where hazardous wastes or regulated substances threaten public health or the environment.
5. Research to assess existing or potential environmental damage resulting from mineral development.
Crucial State Need Projects:
If there is a crucial state need to protect Montana’s environment, DNRC and the governor may recommend that the legislature approve funding for projects in addition to those project types described in 1 through 5 above. Projects that meet a crucial state need must prevent or eliminate severe and unacceptable damage to natural resources or capture extraordinary public benefit that would otherwise be lost. They must have a regional or statewide importance. Public benefit from implementation of this type of project must directly relate to natural resources. The critical and urgent nature of the proposed project must be clearly demonstrated in the application.
Grant Amount
DNRC will recommend up to $300,000 for most projects. DNRC may recommend up to $500,000 for a project if the applicant has clearly demonstrated significant natural resource benefits and the financial need and unavailability of other funds to complete the project. The legislature may choose to award a lower or higher amount. An applicant proposing more than one project must submit a separate application for each. There is no minimum funding limit.
Application Evaluation, Scoring, and Ranking
DNRC solicits, evaluates, and ranks each application submitted to the RDGP and forwards its recommendations for funding to the Governor’s Office before each regular legislative session. With the governor’s approval, these recommendations are submitted to the legislature. The legislature makes the final decision on which projects will be funded.
For an outline of the ranking criteria, please see Application Review and Evaluation on pages 5-6 of the paper application.
Funding for Approved Projects
Funds for projects approved by the legislature are awarded according to the funding priority list set by the legislature. Program funding becomes available throughout the two-year funding cycle beginning July 1 of every odd-numbered year; applicants are notified when grant funds are available for their project which may not occur until later in the biennium. Grant funds are available until funds are exhausted. Not all approved projects will be funded if the total amount requested exceeds available funds. If applicants are unsuccessful in obtaining funds, they can apply during the following grant cycle.
Submittal Instructions
Application forms must be submitted online at https://funding.mt.gov and additional documents must be postmarked to the DNRC office no later than 5:00 pm June 1, 2020.
If you have questions, please contact Heidi Anderson Folnagy at (406) 444-6691. Additional help can be found on the RDGP webpage: dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/cardd/resource-development/reclamation-and-development-grants-program
Submitted Online:
- Online application at https://funding.mt.gov
Submitted by Mail:
- Two unbound hard copies of the entire application (Steps 1-9) including a copy of all supporting documentation.
- One original authorizing statement.
- Two CDs (compact disc) or thumb drives of the application and supporting technical documents
Montana DNRC
Resource Development Bureau
P.O. Box 201601
Helena, MT 59620-1601
Phone: (406) 444-6668
https://funding.mt.gov |
