| Please join ConservAmerica for a webinar on Wednesday, April 6 at 11 AM ET on the recently introduced legislation, Senate Bill 3571, titled “Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2022.” This bipartisan bill, if enacted, would establish a pilot permitting program to enable not-for-profit cleanup efforts to move forward, while ensuring those performing the cleanup have the skills and resources to comply with federal oversight. This pilot program is designed for lower-risk projects which will improve water and soil quality or otherwise protect human health. Many third parties have the resources and technical know-how to clean up watersheds and acid-mine drainage from these legacy mines yet concerns about legal liabilities creates a chilling effect that stops these environmentally friendly projects in their tracks. These third parties, commonly referred to as “Good Samaritans,” are NOT responsible for the mining or causing the environmental damage. However, the broad reach of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) makes them potentially responsible for pollution outside the scope of what they volunteered to clean-up. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted a policy of using administrative tools to encourage Good Samaritan cleanups. However, these tools are limited and not capable of providing the same protections and incentives as federal legislation. This webinar will discuss the legislation and efforts needed to make progress on removing barriers for the cleanup of legacy mines. |
