(a) The provisions of the program are subject to the annual appropriation by Congress of funds from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the transfer of as much as 20 percent of these funds from the Office to Surface Mining to NRCS for program operation.

(b) Allotments of Rural Abandoned Mine Program funds to state conservationists are to reflect the national program needs, the geographic areas from which the funds were derived, the funding priority assigned to applications for program assistance, including benefits expected to be derived, and the practicability and feasibility of the reclamation work proposed.