SE Wyoming News

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) issued a statement following the passage of her bill, the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act, in the Senate. The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), aims to revive the Trump administration’s Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address hardrock mine cleanup in western regions. Lummis emphasized the importance of tailoring solutions to meet the specific needs of the western states, stating, "Rather than embracing this administration’s ill-fitted, one-size-fits-all approach to governing, we must embrace tailored solutions that best suit the west and its specific needs."

The bill's passage ensures that decisions regarding hardrock mine cleanup in the western United States will involve input from local communities. Lummis underscored the significance of resurrecting this office, highlighting that it guarantees "states, tribes and localities familiar with our unique ecosystem have a seat at the table." Expressing her satisfaction with the Senate's approval of the legislation, Lummis stated, "Resurrecting this office ensures states, tribes and localities familiar with our unique ecosystem have a seat at the table, and I am thrilled the Senate passed this important legislation."

The establishment of the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains in 2020 granted it oversight over hardrock mines located west of the Mississippi River. Lummis introduced the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act to reinforce the federal government's commitment to partnering with local entities in the western regions, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions to address the environmental challenges specific to these areas.