President Joe Biden this week signed off on bipartisan legislation aimed at advancing the cleanup of abandoned mines across the nation — breaking a legislative impasse that’s long frustrated lawmakers and left dangerous pollution unaddressed.
The president signed S. 2781, the “Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024,” marking a victory for Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and other sponsors.
The language, which moved through the House last week after sailing through the Senate this summer, offers limited permits and legal protection for good Samaritan groups — nonprofits, local governments and state agencies — willing to clean up abandoned mines that can leak toxins that can contaminate surrounding lands and waters and let off dangerous gases.
The White House in a release thanked Heinrich and Risch for leading on the bill, as well as Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.), who introduced a companion in the House.
