Good Samaritan Mine Site Remediation Law Enacted

In an email update last week, the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership shared news about a great development for the future of abandoned mine site cleanup. The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act was signed into law by President Biden in mid-December 2024. This new law authorizes 15 pilot mine site remediation projects, and is expected to lead to significant water quality improvements in watersheds like ours. You can learn more about this good news from Trout Unlimited, the national nonprofit who worked hard to get this legislation passed.

FLASH FROM THE PAST: Good Samaritan Legislation

From a 2013 UWP Blog Post: The Uncompahgre Watershed is littered with old, abandoned mine sites that are leaching heavy metals and acidic water into the river. Some community members are willing to take it upon themselves to partially or entirely clean up these old mine sites. Unfortunately, according to the Clean Water Act, these citizens then become liable for projects that do not meet EPA standards, even if the water quality is improved. This could potentially be devastating, especially financially, for the “good Samaritans” who have voluntarily cleaned up these sites. 

Good Samaritan Legislation would promote a limited liability of these citizens so there is less of a disincentive for cleaning up our watershed.

The EPA and Ouray County were advocating for the legislation but the links to the websites with that information have since been taken down as the situation changed and new updates became available.

 And check out the UWP’s own (former Watershed Coordinator) Agnieszka Przeszlowska in “The Watch” speaking about “Good Sam” Legislation: 2012.08.02 “Help for Local Good Samaritans Could Come From EPA“