To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Support A Process for "Good Samaritans" to Improve Water Quality at Abandoned Mines Where There I...
Please sign the petition and send a message that you:
1. Recognize that there is an immediate need for the EPA to eliminate disincentives, and establish incentives and clearly limiting liability for voluntary, cooperative efforts aimed at improving and protecting water quality impacted by historic mining activity where there is no financially responsible party;
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2. Support the immediate creation and implementation of a process or system, either administratively by the EPA, or through federal legislation, to provide bona fide "Good Samaritans" assurance they will not incur long-term legal liability for discharges at abandoned mine sites where they have performed cleanup work, provided that the cleanup work is done in accordance with applicable agreements and measurably improves water quality, even if Clean Water Act/TMDL standards cannot be achieved;
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3. Tell the EPA they need to finish updating guidance on the law and regulations for potential Good Samaritans that have no connection to the mining activities or any liability or responsibility for the cleanup of the mine site.
Why is this important?
Current federal laws and policies do not allow a process for "Good Samaritans" to improve water quality through clean-up or mitigation of acid mine drainage from abandoned mines that involves the long-term discharge of water without fear of longterm financial liability and being subject to citizen lawsuits if improved water quality does not fully meet Clean Water Act/TMDL standards.
There are hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines in the U.S., many over 50-100 years old, and for which no responsible party is known. Allowing Good Samaritans to measurably and demonstratably improve water quality where there may be acidic and metal-laden waters draining from abandoned mine features will have positive impacts by creating jobs, and REDUCING costs for providing potable drinking water in headwaters communities. In addition, improving water quality could provide many significant positive economic benefits such as to improving fisheries and functional habitat, improved agricultural yields, enhanced opportunities for industrial and municipal uses, improving outdoor recreational opportunities, and providing primary and secondary job opportunities.
Removing toxic metals such as cobalt, zinc, aluminum, cadmium, and others could provide a source of metals that can in turn be used for manufacturing solar panels, batteries, or other components of the new energy economy.