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October 23, 2024

Crane Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Cleanup Abandoned Mines, Bolstering Public Safety in Rural Arizona 

Yesterday, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act. The bill would codify the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMDP) at the EPA to formalize and improve coordination between the EPA and State/Tribal authorities on hardrock mine cleanup and ensure the Office is held accountable to Congressional oversight. Proper mine cleanup is a vital issue for all of rural Arizona and the broader region.

Specifically, codifying the OMDP with this legislation would:

  • Encourage EPA to prioritize responsible mine cleanup in Arizona over green initiatives,
  • Ensure proper Congressional oversight of their progress,
  • Bolster the OMDP’s outreach to ensure local/Tribal authorities have a seat at the table on cleanup projects that impact their health and environment,
  • Provide guardrails to keep the office’s efforts focused on mine cleanup.

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) have introduced a companion bill in the Senate. 

BACKGROUND

Until the 1970s, mine operators could abandon their land after conducting mining activities, often leaving behind toxic waste piles and open, unsecured tunnels.

The Government Accountability Office has estimated that there are 140,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the United States, mostly located in western states, which pose health and safety hazards to surrounding communities like surface and groundwater contamination. Over 500 of those sites exist on the Navajo Nation.

The OMDP was created in 2020 by the Trump EPA but still lacks Congressional authorization. The Office has been effective in their planning of cleanup activities and outreach, even establishing several local offices and assisting with EPA regional office cleanup efforts. This bill builds on the successes of the Office and increases Congressional oversight of EPA’s mine cleanup progress.

“As we work to support domestic mining of critical minerals, it’s crucial that we remain committed to doing so responsibly. The consequences of poor stewardship are detrimental for the health and safety of those living in rural Arizona—particularly those on the Navajo Nation,” said Rep. Eli Crane. “I’m proud to introduce this piece of legislation that would help ensure reasonable and timely cleanup and increased Congressional oversight of the process.”