Lummis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Legacy Mine Cleanup Act

September 10, 2025

Washington, D.C.- Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today reintroduced the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act, bipartisan legislation that would formally establish the Office of Mountains, Deserts and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) has introduced the House version of this legislation.

The Government Accountability Office estimated there are approximately 140,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the United States, largely in the western United States. Unsecured mine tunnels, toxic waste piles, and other hazards, known as mine features, are found at abandoned hardrock mines across federal and nonfederal lands. To address these issues and keep our communities safe, the first Trump Administration created the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMPD) in 2020 at the EPA to serve as a central clearing house and coordinating entity to handle Western-specific issues in the Western U.S. Specifically, the office was tasked with bringing some semblance of order and coordination to cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines.

"Protecting Wyoming and the west's treasured landscapes requires moving beyond Washington's typical one-size-fits-all mentality," said Lummis. "We need region-specific strategies that respect our western communities and the unique challenges we face. I'm pleased to again work with Senator Kelly to give this important office permanent standing so it can build meaningful partnerships with states, tribes, and local stakeholders."

"In Arizona, abandoned uranium mines continue to threaten the health of our families, our land, and our water," said Kelly. "By cutting red tape, strengthening accountability, and improving coordination, we can accelerate cleanups and protect communities, especially tribal nations that have carried this burden for far too long."

Background:

• The Legacy Mine Cleanup Act would provide statutory authority for the specialized EPA office, which was initially created during the first Trump administration in 2020.
• The office focuses specifically on hardrock mine remediation west of the Mississippi River, working in partnership with state governments, tribal nations, and local communities.
• This legislation benefits Wyoming communities by requiring that hardrock mine cleanup decisions be made as partnerships between agencies and the people who live and work in these areas.

For full bill text, click here.