The Legacy Mine Cleanup Act establishes a new Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate and streamline cleanup efforts at abandoned hardrock mine sites across the country. The office will develop best practices for mine remediation, create an annual priority list of contaminated sites needing cleanup, and facilitate coordination among federal agencies, states, tribal governments, and private companies involved in cleanup work. The legislation gives special attention to uranium-contaminated sites on Navajo Nation lands, requiring federal agencies to develop a comprehensive 10-year cleanup plan by September 2028 that includes cleanup goals, timelines, and funding projections. The bill does not grant the EPA any new regulatory powers; rather, it organizes existing cleanup authorities to work more efficiently. All activities are subject to available appropriations and funding from potentially responsible parties.
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