It does not require much for an ancient mine shaft from centuries ago to collapse with you inside. Or for remnants of mercury, lead, or arsenic to seep into Nevada’s already pressured underground water reserves.
For 25 years, environmental nonprofit organizations have advocated for Congress to enact a "Good Samaritan" law, enabling these groups to take action—without facing hefty penalties typically imposed on initial polluters. This legislation garnered backing from both parties and received an endorsement from Republican Governor Joe Lombardo.
Those efforts ultimately succeeded when President Joe Biden signed a bill into law Last year, an initiative was launched within the Environmental Protection Agency to create a pilot program. Over the next seven years, state agencies and nonprofit organizations will collaborate to pinpoint 15 derelict mines and restore them completely.
Abandoned mines often leave a negative impact," stated Representative Susie Lee, D-Nev., who cosponsored the legislation. "These locations aren’t merely outdated remnants left behind by mining corporations; they continue to contaminate water supplies, endanger tribal territories, and their dangerous conditions have caused injuries and fatalities.
As far back as state records date back to 1961, 19 individuals have perished. abandoned mines , and others have also sustained injuries.
On Friday, Lee joined the Nevada Division of Minerals and the nonprofit organization Trout Unlimited in commemorating the law’s signing at the Arden Gyspum Mine One of approximately 300,000 abandoned minesites in the state that was sealed off in 2018.
Is Nevada part of the pilot program?
Given Nevada has the highest number of abandoned mines among all states in the country, it stands to gain from at least some of the 15 suggested remediation projects, according to Rob Ghigrieri, who leads the state’s Division of Minerals.
Although he didn't specify which might rank highest on the priority list, Ghiglieri mentioned that his office will meet with EPA personnel the following week to talk about possible initiatives that could be part of the pilot program.
Although the state has made efforts to finance cleanup initiatives independently, Ghiglieri emphasized that addressing the issue of legal liability is crucial. Currently, when nonprofit organizations take charge of a cleanup, they risk being penalized for failing to meet federal regulations regarding water or air quality—despite the fact that these sites may still represent significant improvements from their previous conditions.
"Once we demonstrate the importance of this program, our aim is for it to eventually result in a lasting, countrywide Good Samaritan initiative," Ghiglieri stated.
At the Arden Gypsum Mine, where shafts have been sealed off and are now unreachable, Ghiglieri mentioned that state authorities picture significantly safer and better-developed hiking and recreation paths.
Moving ahead, securing funds for these initiatives continues to pose a challenge. According to Ghiglieri, if Nevada managed to remediate all problematic hazardous mine sites, the expenses might add up to around $3 billion.
Corey Fisher, who leads public land policies at Trout Unlimited, mentioned that their organization holds a significant stake across the Western region in restoring water bodies to create healthier habitats for fish. He stated that nonprofits similar to his continue to be dedicated to urging Congress to establish a lasting Good Samaritan initiative whenever an opportunity arises.
It's a significant issue, and it might sound alarming," Fisher stated. "However, it is a problem we can solve.
Contact Alan Halaly at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.
©2025 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com... Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Post a Comment