The Bush administration Wednesday proposed new legislation to remove pollution liability for “good Samaritans” willing to clean up the nation’s half- million abandoned hard-rock mines.
Sponsored by two Republican legislators – Rep. John Duncan of Tennessee and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma – the Good Samaritan Clean Watershed Act is designed to clear the legal roadblocks for volunteers willing to restore watersheds tainted by acid mine drainage.
There are an estimated 17,000 abandoned mines in Colorado, many of which have polluted nearby waterways.
“Environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility, and President Bush and EPA are equipping America’s eager army of citizen conservationists with the essential tools,” said Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson.
There have been several attempts to pass a good Samaritan law. But such laws were often opposed by both the mining industry and environmentalists, and none passed.
“This new legislation certainly contributes to the momentum that’s building behind good Samaritan-driven cleanups,” said Tim Brown, a research associate for the Center of the American West in Boulder. “It certainly helps now that EPA has thrown its support behind it.”
Both the National Mining Association and Trout Unlimited released statements Wednesday congratulating the EPA for taking the lead on the new legislation.
Some environmental groups, however, criticized the legislation for lacking a clearly defined funding source and guarantees about cleanup levels.
“The public needs to know that polluted water from these mines won’t get worse as a result of activities authorized by this legislation,” said Stephen D’Esposito, president of Earthworks, a Washington-based group.
The legislation is similar to bills filed by Western lawmakers, including Sens. Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard and U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, all of Colorado.
Under the new legislation, volunteer groups willing to tackle an abandoned mine must first apply for a permit through the EPA or a tribal nation.
Staff writer Kim McGuire can be reached at 303-820-1240 or kmcguire@denverpost.com.
