Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2741
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-20: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-12T15:29:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve coordination of cleanup efforts at sites affected by past hardrock mining activities. Its short title is the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025.
Key Provisions
- Creates definitions for key terms, including "covered mine site" (land and water affected by past hardrock mining), "cleanup action" (actions under existing EPA authorities such as Superfund or water pollution laws), and "Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mine site."
- Establishes the Office within the EPA division handling solid waste programs, led by a Director appointed by the EPA Administrator.
- Outlines the Office’s purposes: coordinating EPA headquarters and regional offices on mine cleanups; sharing best practices for technology, reuse, and waste disposal; facilitating voluntary cleanups involving states, tribes, and non-liable parties; promoting small business contracting; and supporting interagency efforts, especially at sites without responsible parties.
- Requires annual identification of priority mine sites for cleanup, with reports to Congress on methodology and progress.
- Mandates process improvements, including research on effective technologies and support for government-to-government consultations with Indian Tribes.
- Directs development of 10-year interagency plans (starting by September 30, 2028, and recurring every decade) for coordinating cleanup of Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mine sites, involving agencies such as the Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Indian Health Service.
- Authorizes technical assistance to states, tribes, and local governments.
- Includes savings provisions confirming that the Office does not create new regulatory powers or set default cleanup standards.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds a new dedicated EPA office focused on legacy hardrock mine cleanups, with specific requirements for annual priority lists, interagency uranium plans for the Navajo Nation, and enhanced tribal consultation processes. It builds on existing authorities like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act without expanding them.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases coordination duties for the EPA, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, and others; requires regular reporting and planning.
- Citizens and communities: Aims to accelerate cleanups at abandoned mine sites, potentially reducing health and environmental risks in affected areas, including Indian country.
- No direct international effects are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- EPA headquarters and regional offices.
- Federal agencies (Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Nuclear Regulatory Commission).
- States, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and Tribal allottees.
- Local governments, watershed groups, non-liable parties, mining companies, and small businesses involved in contracting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill emphasizes government-to-government consultations with Indian Tribes and specific protections for Navajo Nation sites, while explicitly preserving existing legal authorities. It introduces recurring congressional reporting requirements but does not alter constitutional allocations of power or create new enforcement mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-20: Held at the desk.
- 2025-11-20: Received in the House.
- 2025-11-20: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-11-19: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8245-8248; text: CR S8247-8248)
- 2025-11-19: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-10-29: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 228.
- 2025-10-29: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Capito with an amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-10-29: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Capito with an amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-10-29: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- 2025-09-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2025-09-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (14 pages)
- Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-09 — PDF (12 pages)
- Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-29 — PDF (14 pages)