10/16/25
For more than 25 years, Western Governors have championed protections for “Good Samaritans” — organizations and individuals who voluntarily clean up abandoned mine sites. Without reform, these groups risk liability under federal laws like the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
The scale of the problem is immense. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports more than 140,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the West — with estimates climbing as high as 390,000. Many have sat idle for decades, posing serious safety risks and polluting Western waterways.
Last December, Congress took action by passing the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act. The law launches a pilot program that allows for the cleanup of 15 mine sites without fear of liability — a landmark step to accelerate reclamation across the region.
EPA announced it will begin reviewing applications for these 15 projects in November. To examine the launch of the new program, WGA Executive Director Jack Waldorf sat down with Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, one of the bill’s original co-sponsors, who also tackled this issue as Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2018.
In this episode of WGA's Out West podcast, you’ll also hear from WGA Policy Advisor Abby Pelsmaeker, who spoke with David Hockey, the Acting Director of EPA’s Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains; Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited; and Rob Ghiglieri, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Minerals.
Together, they’ll share why this legislation matters, how the pilot program will work, and what kinds of projects could finally move forward under its protections.
To listen, click the embedded player below. You can also find the Out West podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean.