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119-s-2741119th CongressWALLET

Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

Passed Senate

Summary

Creates an EPA Office to coordinate cleanup of legacy mine sites and accelerate safe reuse. The Office will prioritize covered mine sites, share cleanup best practices, support Tribal consultation, and develop a 10-year interagency plan for Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mines.

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  • Tribal communities: The Office supports government-to-government consultations and offers technical assistance for cleanup on Tribal land. It must develop a 10-year interagency plan for Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mine sites with goals and projected funding needs.
  • States and local governments: EPA will publish an annual priority list of covered mine sites and share best practices for site assessments, remedial investigations, and cleanup approaches to guide state and local actions.
  • Small businesses and contractors: The Office will coordinate with federal procurement authorities to promote contracting opportunities for small businesses and provide administrative guidance for voluntary cleanup actions by nonliable parties.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New EPA office helps small cleanup firms

If enacted, EPA would create an Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains to lead cleanup at mine sites. The office would update a yearly priority list of sites and report on progress. It would give technical help, share best practices, and support Tribal consultations. It would work to expand small-business contracting for cleanup, following federal procurement rules. It would coordinate with EPA regions, states, Tribes, and other groups on cleanup actions.

10-year plan for Navajo uranium cleanup

If enacted, EPA would prepare a 10-year plan to clean up abandoned uranium mines on Navajo Nation lands. The plan would be finished not later than September 30, 2028, and updated at least every 10 years. It would list cleanup goals, target dates, needed funding, and each agency’s tasks. EPA would send Congress a report within 90 days after the plan is done. Target dates would depend on appropriations and funds from responsible parties.

Cleanup scope defined, EPA powers unchanged

If enacted, the bill would define "cleanup action" and "covered mine site" for EPA mine cleanups. Cleanup actions would use existing EPA laws, such as the Superfund law and the Clean Water Act. Covered sites would include federal, state, Tribal, local, and private lands, and nearby waters. The bill would not give EPA new legal powers or set default cleanup standards.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

AZ • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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