Crapo-Backed Legislation to Clean Up Abandoned Mines Passes U.S. House of Representatives, Heads to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) celebrated the passage of S. 2781, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Crapo is a co-sponsor of the bill led by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho). The legislation will make it easier for "Good Samaritans," such as state agencies, nonprofits and other groups to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines.

The Senate unanimously passed the bill in July. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

"This measure is a good step toward removing the red tape that creates unnecessary hurdles for those committed to responsibly cleaning up mines," said Crapo. "Good Samaritans are upholding a duty to the natural environment as stewards of the land, and we in Congress must continue our work to ensure they have the support they need to work unencumbered by burdensome regulations and undue liability risks."

Background

The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of abandoned hardrock mine features, of which at least 33,000 pose environmental hazards according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Organizations that have no legal or financial responsibility to an abandoned mine-- true Good Samaritans-- want to volunteer to remediate some of these sites. Unfortunately, liability rules would leave these Good Samaritans legally responsible for all the pre-existing pollution from a mine, even though they had no involvement with the mine prior to cleaning it up.

The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act creates a pilot permitting program to enable not-for-profit cleanup efforts to move forward, while ensuring Good Samaritans have the skills and resources to comply with federal oversight. This pilot program is designed for lower risk projects that will improve water and soil quality or otherwise protect human health.

A one-page summary is here.

The text of the bill is here.

The legislation is co-sponsored by 38 additional U.S. Senators.

The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act has garnered widespread support from agencies and organizations:

• States: Western Governor's Association, Western States Water Council, Interstate Mining Compact Commission, National Association of Abandoned Mind Land Programs, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Attorney General of Colorado, Governor of Nevada.

• National conservation organizations: American Rivers, American Sportfishing Association, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Conservation Alliance, Nature Conservancy, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited.

• Mining industry organizations: National Mining Association, American Exploration and Mining Association.

• Tribal leaders: National Congress of American Indians.

• Outdoor Recreation organizations and businesses: American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Outdoor Alliance, and dozens of state and local organizations and businesses.

• Wildlife and sportsmen's organizations: American Fly Fishing Trade Association, American Sportfishing Association, Angler Action Foundation, Archery Trade Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S), Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Boone and Crockett Club, Campfire Club of America, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Fly Fishers International, Houston Safari Club, Izaak Walton League of America, Mule Deer Foundation, National Association of Forest Service Retirees, National Deer Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Wildlife Federation, New York State Conservation Council, North American Grouse Partnership, Orion: The Hunter's Institute, Pheasants Forever, Pope & Young Club, Property and Environment Research Center, Public Lands Foundation, Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, The Nature Conservancy, The Wildlife Society, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.