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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
hardrock mines; remediation; urging support
Purpose
Urges the Arizona State Mine Inspector (Mine Inspector) and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to work with federal agencies and members of the private sector to find qualifying legacy mining sites in Arizona and apply for the pilot program under the federal Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act (Act).
Background
In 2024, the U.S. Congress passed the Act, and the President of the United States signed the Act into law. The Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Good Samaritan pilot program. Under the pilot program, the EPA may issue certain permits to allow Good Samaritans to remediate historic mine residue and abandoned hardrock mine sites to protect human health and the environment without being subject to enforcement or liability under specified environmental laws for past, present or future releases, threats of releases or discharges of hazardous substances or other contaminants at or from the abandoned mine site.
A Good Samaritan is a person that is not a past or current owner or operator of the abandoned mine site, has no role in the creation of the historic mine residue and is not potentially liable under any law for the remediation, treatment or control of the historic mine site (P.L. 118-155, 118th Congress, 2024).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. States that the Legislature prays that the Mine Inspector and ADEQ work with federal agencies and members of the private sector to find qualifying legacy mining sites in Arizona and apply for the pilot program under the Act.
2. Directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of the memorial to the Mine Inspector, the Director of ADEQ and each member of Congress from Arizona.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
NREW 2/11/25 DP 10-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/20/25 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2025
SB/slp