 Resolutions
Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines 2001 Regulation of Mining 2000 Reports Working Documents 6/20/00 WGA statement for the record on S. 1787 10/19/99 WGA Letter Supporting Baucus-Campbell-Daschle bill February 1999 WGA Clean Water Act testimony Good Samaritan background paper WGA Proposed amendment to the Clean Water Act WGA Proposed Committee Report Language Contact |
Western governors have been engaged collectively on abandoned mine issues since 1988. WGA published the first ever national snapshot on the number and extent of abandoned mines in the country back in 1990. The governors have supported the imposition of a reasonable royalty on hardrock minerals mined on public lands and the creation of a national abandoned mine cleanup fund. The governors also have asked Congress to amend the Clean Water Act to provide a "Good Samaritan" exemption from liability for states which clean up old, abandoned mine sites. On January 29, 2003, Rep. Udall introduced HR 504, a bill to provide protection from liability for Good Samaritan cleanups of abandoned mines and create an abandoned mine reclamation fund. A companion bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate. In 1999, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced S1787, the "Good Samaritan Abandoned or Inactive Mine Waste Remediation Act" together with co-sponsors Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) and Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD). Click here for a one page summary and the statement by Sen. Baucus upon introduction. On October 19, 1999, the Western Governors' Association sent a letter expressing support for the Baucus- Campbell- Daschle bill. The WGA letter was signed by WGA co-lead Governors Racicot, Owens and Leavitt. On June 20, 2000, Governor Janklow testified at a hearing on S. 1787 and submitted testimony on behalf of WGA. |