East Idaho Times

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo has announced the passage of S. 2781, known as the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, co-sponsored by Crapo and led by Senators Martin Heinrich and Jim Risch, aims to facilitate the cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines by "Good Samaritans" such as state agencies and nonprofits.

The Senate had previously passed the bill unanimously in July. It now awaits President Joe Biden's signature to become 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. He emphasized that "Good Samaritans are upholding a duty to the natural environment as stewards of the land."

The United States is home to hundreds of thousands of abandoned hardrock mine features, with at least 33,000 posing environmental hazards according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The legislation seeks to address liability issues that have deterred voluntary remediation efforts by organizations with no legal or financial responsibility for these sites.

The act proposes a pilot permitting program aimed at enabling not-for-profit cleanup initiatives while ensuring compliance with federal oversight. This program targets lower-risk projects focused on improving water and soil quality or protecting human health.

A broad coalition supports this legislation, including state agencies like the Western Governor’s Association and Colorado Department of Natural Resources; national conservation groups such as American Rivers and Trout Unlimited; mining industry organizations like the National Mining Association; tribal leaders from the National Congress of American Indians; and various outdoor recreation businesses and wildlife organizations.