Rep. Eli Crane has introduced the bipartisan Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025, which would codify the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMDP) within the EPA.
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) is the Democratic co-lead in the House, and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) are leading a companion bill in the Senate.
Crane believes the bill will strengthen coordination among Federal, State, and Tribal authorities on hardrock mine cleanup.
Crane says the bill will ensure congressional oversight of the Office. Proper mine cleanup remains a vital issue for rural Arizona and the broader region.
“I want to thank Congressmen Eli Crane and Greg Stanton, Senators Mark Kelly and Cynthia Lummis, and all those involved in the introduction of the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act. This legislation is a critical step forward in addressing the long-standing health and environmental impacts of abandoned hardrock mines, especially on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. “By codifying the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains at the EPA, this bill ensures Tribal nations like ours have a meaningful voice in mine cleanup efforts that directly impact our communities. We have lived with the consequences of these abandoned sites for far too long—this act represents accountability, cooperation, and real progress. Ahéheeʼ to everyone who has helped move this issue forward.”
“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 on the Navajo Nation,” said Rep. Eli Crane. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would help ensure reasonable and timely cleanup and increased congressional oversight of the process.”
Specifically, codifying the OMDP with this legislation would:
- Encourage the EPA to prioritize responsible mine cleanup in Arizona over green initiatives,
- Ensure proper congressional oversight of its progress,
- Bolster the OMDP’s outreach to ensure that local and Tribal authorities have a seat at the table for cleanup projects that impact their health and environment,
- Provide guardrails to keep the office’s efforts focused on mine cleanup.
Until the 1970s, mine operators were allowed to abandon their land after conducting mining activities, often leaving behind toxic waste piles and unsecured tunnels.
The Government Accountability Office estimates that there are 140,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the United States, primarily in western states. These mines pose health and safety hazards to surrounding communities, including surface and groundwater contamination. More than 500 of those sites are located on the Navajo Nation.
The OMDP was established in 2020 by the Trump EPA but still lacks congressional authorization. The Office has been effective in planning cleanup activities and conducting outreach, even establishing several local offices and assisting with EPA regional office cleanup efforts. This bill builds on the Office’s successes while increasing congressional oversight of the EPA’s mine cleanup progress.
so back when Phelps dodge via Southern Peruvian mine(sub) went bankrupt
they paid EPA $600,000,000 to clean up SUPER FUND SITE(back in 2000)
today status of cleanup
money has been spent(on other things)
site cleanup to date = NONE, ZIP, NADA
Earth FIRST! We’ll mine the other planets later
if you travel ‘southern Az’ desert – you’ll find ‘LOTS OF ABANDON MINES’ – don’t eat the fish you catch! Heavy Metals! Patagonia is a good example ; the area is riddled like Swiss Cheese with old silver and gold mines – with ponds that have ‘yellow surface water color’ toss in a rock it becomes a purple pool!!! Yikes – the fish are walking at lakeside 🙂 NO JOKE – New mines should be mandated with clean up of old mines – new mines will be in operation decades – they have time to FIX IT.