United States Senators Martin Heinrich (New Mexico) and Jim Risch (Idaho) introduced legislation titled:
Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act (“Act”)
The Act’s objective is stated to include making it easier for “Good Samaritans” such as state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and other groups to:
. . . clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines.
The sponsors state that the Western United States has a number of abandoned mines that are leaking various metals and therefore threaten the environment. They estimate that the United States has over 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features.
The Act is intended to reduce the fear by those who may be interested in addressing the environmental issues associated with these abandoned mines (i.e., the mining industry, conservation community, etc.) because of the potential liability in doing so.
The Act would create a pilot program intended to promote the cleanup of orphaned hardrock mines. It would address the liability disincentives pursuant to such pilot program.
A copy of the news release can be downloaded here and Act here.
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