Rep. Crane’s Bipartisan Bill to Clean Up Abandoned Mines Advances in Committee

Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a legislative hearing on the bipartisan Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025, legislation introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) to accelerate the cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines across the country.

The bill would codify the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMDP) within the EPA, strengthening coordination among Federal, State, and Tribal authorities on mine remediation efforts.

Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) serves as the Democratic co-lead in the House, and Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) successfully passed the companion bill through the Senate earlier this Congress.

Until the 1970s, mine operators were allowed to abandon sites after concluding operations, leaving behind unsecured tunnels and toxic waste piles that continue to threaten nearby communities in rural America. According to the Government Accountability Office, the United States has an estimated 140,000 abandoned hardrock mines, including more than 500 located on the Navajo Nation.

To address these longstanding hazards, the Trump administration established the OMDP in 2020. Since then, the Office has opened several local field offices, expanded outreach to impacted communities, and supported cleanup operations across western states. Despite these successes, the Office still lacks formal congressional authorization.

With today's legislative hearing, combined with the Senate's earlier passage of the companion bill, Rep. Crane is confident that this bipartisan legislation is well-positioned to advance and be signed into law by the President.

"Abandoned mines pose serious health and safety hazards for surrounding communities, and the federal government should prioritize mitigating these harmful impacts. By codifying the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the EPA, we ensure that the Office's important work continues without interruption," said Rep. Crane. "I commend Sens. Kelly and Lummis for successfully passing a companion bill through the Senate, and I also appreciate Rep. Stanton for his partnership on this legislation in the House. I'm hopeful we can build on the momentum from today's legislative hearing and see this bill receive a vote on the House Floor."

"I want to thank Congressmen Eli Crane and Greg Stanton, Senators Mark Kelly and Cynthia Lummis, and all those involved in the introduction of the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act. This legislation is a critical step forward in addressing the long-standing health and environmental impacts of abandoned hardrock mines, especially on the Navajo Nation," said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. "By codifying the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains at the EPA, this bill ensures Tribal nations like ours have a meaningful voice in mine cleanup efforts that directly impact our communities. We have lived with the consequences of these abandoned sites for far too long-this act represents accountability, cooperation, and real progress. Ahéheeʼ to everyone who has helped move this issue forward."