A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025," proposes to create the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency. The new office would be directed by a Director selected by the EPA Administrator. The primary goal is to coordinate cleanup actions at covered mine sites, including those in Indian country. The Office is tasked with establishing best practices, encouraging small business contracting opportunities, and coordinating with various federal agencies and stakeholders. Additionally, the Administrator must identify and report on prioritized mine sites annually. The bill also requires the development of interagency plans specifically for uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill mandates specific interagency planning and tribal consultation for uranium mine cleanup on the Navajo Nation.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes an office to coordinate cleanup actions for contaminated mine sites to protect human health and the environment.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill specifically seeks to encourage small business participation in cleanup contracts.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Cleanup Coordination: The Office will coordinate between EPA headquarters, Regional Offices, and various stakeholders to manage cleanup actions at covered mine sites (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Development of Best Practices: The Office is tasked with establishing and sharing best practices for mine site cleanups, including the use of innovative technologies and waste storage solutions (Section 2(c)(2)).
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Small Business Opportunities: The bill aims to encourage contracting opportunities for small businesses to participate in cleanup actions at covered mine sites (Section 2(c)(4)).
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Protection of Human Health and Environment: One purpose of the Office is to establish best practices to protect and improve human health and the environment (Section 2(c)(6)(B)).
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Support for Tribal Consultations: The Administrator is required to support government-to-government consultations with Indian Tribes regarding mine sites located in Indian country (Section 2(d)(2)(A)(iii)).
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Targeted Action for Navajo Nation: The bill mandates the creation of a 10-year interagency plan to coordinate cleanup actions at abandoned uranium mine sites on the Navajo Nation (Section 2(d)(3)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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No New Regulatory Authority: The bill explicitly states that it does not provide the Administrator with any new regulatory authority that is not already established in law (Section 2(e)(1)).
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Dependency on Appropriations: Plans for cleanup goals at Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mine sites are subject to available appropriations and funding (Section 2(d)(3)(A)(ii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates specific interagency planning and tribal consultation for uranium mine cleanup on the Navajo Nation. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill specifically seeks to encourage small business participation in cleanup contracts. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill addresses environmental cleanup in many rural areas where mining has occurred.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes an office to coordinate cleanup actions for contaminated mine sites to protect human health and the environment. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill focuses on the management and cleanup of historical mine sites on public and tribal lands.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill encourages contracting opportunities for small businesses to participate in mine cleanup actions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reporting to Congress regarding priority mine sites and cleanup status. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes a new office within the EPA to manage and coordinate cleanup actions.
- 6/5/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 6/4/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Greg StantonDemocrat · Arizona