Abandoned Hardrock Mines Reclamation Facilitation Act

H.R. 1266, the Abandoned Hardrock Mines Reclamation Facilitation Act, seeks to simplify the legal process for cleaning up abandoned or inactive mines that are currently polluting local waterways. The bill would allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue special permits to "Good Samaritans"—such as state agencies, tribal governments, or non-profit organizations—who want to remediate these sites but are currently deterred by the threat of legal liability under the Clean Water Act. By providing these protections, the bill aims to accelerate the restoration of water quality and ecosystems in communities affected by historic mining runoff.