June 20, 2024
The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate
The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries Minority Leader United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker United States House of Representatives
RE: S. 2781/H.R. 7779 – The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jefferies:
Clean water is essential for America’s booming outdoor recreation economy. Generating $1.1 trillion in economic output and five million jobs, this industry is here to stay and will continue to support communities across the country.
Everything from commercial river recreation to rafting, kayaking, wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing and more, depend on the cold, clean waters that course through our streams and rivers, and fill our wetlands and lakes. Unfortunately, many miles of those waterways are impaired by pollution from abandoned mines. We write to you today in support of Good Samaritan legislation that would speed up restoration of America’s waterways degraded by abandoned mine pollution.
Over 110,000 stream miles in the U.S. are listed as impaired due to heavy metals and/or high acidity, with mine pollution being a significant contributing factor. Moreover, there are hundreds of thousands abandoned mines throughout the western United States, an estimated 33,000 of which are degrading the environment, including contaminating surface and groundwater.
While the Federal government can use a Superfund action to clean up some of these abandoned mines, Superfund only addresses the worst cases while thousands of smaller abandoned mines bleed toxic pollutants every day. State agencies, county governments, conservation organizations and watershed groups want to tackle smaller cleanup efforts. However, under federal law, those who have no legal responsibility or connection to an abandoned mine – true Good Samaritans – are deterred from cleaning up these messes due to the immense liability risks and onerous standards.
In most cases, these cleanups will greatly improve water quality, but meeting high federal water quality standards may not be feasible or cost effective, leaving the Good Samaritan on the hook – forever – for any remaining pollution. In short, the law does not distinguish between those who cause pollution and those who want to clean it up. The result is that these leaking abandoned mines continue to degrade our water, day after day, year after year.
We can solve this conundrum by passing legislation that provides bona fide Good Samaritans limited and targeted liability protections while also holding them accountable to the terms of their permits. Abandoned mines are a big problem, but Good Samaritan legislation will allow well-qualified groups to help tackle work desperately needed across the United States.
The undersigned outdoor recreation businesses and associations fully support S. 2781/H.R. 7779, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024. We thank you for your leadership and urge you to double down on efforts to pass this vital legislation in the 118th Congress.
Sincerely,
American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA)
Bozeman, MT
Outdoor Alliance
Washington D.C.
EndeavOR New Mexico
Farmington, NM
Granite Outdoor Alliance
North Conway, NH
Idaho Business for the Outdoors
Boise, ID
Orvis Fly Fishing Products
Manchester, VT
Simms Fishing Products
Bozeman, MT
Scott Fly Rods
Montrose, CO
Ross Reels
Montrose, CO
Airflo Lines
Montrose, CO
Stream Tech Boats
Boise, ID
Vedavoo
Leominster, MA
Bauer Fly Reels
Twin Bridges, MT
RL Winston Fly Rods
Twin Bridges, MT
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
Washington, D.C.
California Outdoor Recreation Partnership
Oakland, CA
Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance
Colorado Springs, CO
North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition
Raleigh, North Carolina
Northwest River Supplies (NRS)
Moscow, ID
Angling Trade Magazine
Boulder, CO
Duranglers Flies & Supplies
Durango, CO
Fishpond USA
Denver, CO
Sara Bella Fishing
Erie, CO
Abel Reels
Montrose, CO
Pikes Peak Outdoors
Colorado Springs, CO
RepYourWater
Erie, CO
San Juan Angler
Durango, CO
RIGS Fly Shop
Ridgway, CO
Fly Fishers International (FFI)
Livingston, MT
Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures
Bozeman, MT
Taos Fly Shop
Taos, NM
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing
Harrisonburg, VA
AFFTA Fishery Fund
Bozeman, MT
Adipose Boatworks
Helena, MT
Dette Flies
Livingston Manor, NY
Ramsey Outdoor
Ramsey, NJ
North Fork Ranch Guide Service
Shawnee, CO
Maxxon Outfitters
Kent, WA
Anglers All
Littleton, CO
TroutRoutes
Minneapolis, MN
Equinox
Sitka, AK
Fishski Provisions
Valdez, NM
BEG Group
Pittsburgh, PA
L4 Environmental
Longmont, CO
Sage Fly Fishing Products
Bainbridge Island, WA
Rio Fly Lines
Bainbridge Island, WA
Outcast Sporting Gear
Meridian, ID
First Lite
Ketchum, ID
Elko Fly Shop
Elko, NV
Rain Shadow Fly Fishing Promotions
Warrenton, VA
Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing
Richmond, VA
Eldredge Bros. Fly Shop
York, ME
Unicoi Outfitters
Helen, GA
Confluence Casting
Gypsum, CO
Seek Outside
Grand Junction, CO
Tenkara USA
Boulder, CO
Umpqua Feather Merchants
Louisville, CO
Tight Line Media
Idaho Falls, Idaho
The Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Eugene, OR
Last Exit Goods
Steamboat Springs, CO
Sawyer Paddles & Oars
Gold Hill, OR
Redington Fly Fishing Gear
Bainbridge Island, WA
Fly Water Travel
Bainbridge Island, WA
Four Corners River Sports
Durango, CO
Angler’s Covey
Colorado Springs, CO
Aire Boats
Meridian, ID
Zach Lazzari LLC
Missoula, MT
Colorado Tackle Pro
Colorado Springs, CO
Oshki
Muskegon, MI
Sweetwater Travel Co.
Livingston, MT
Waterworks – Lamson
Boise, ID
Tactical Fly Fisher
Springville, UT
Fishwest
Kamas, UT
The Reel Life
Taos, NM
Moldy Chum
Seattle, WA
The Fly Shop
Redding, CA
Adventure Education Consultants
Anchorage, AK
Trident Fly Fishing
Portland, ME
CC:
The Honorable Thomas Carper, Chair, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
The Honorable Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair, House Committee Energy and Commerce
The Honorable Frank Pallone, Ranking Member, House Energy and Commerce Committee
The Honorable Bruce Westerman, Chair, House Natural Resources Committee
The Honorable Raúl Grijalva, Ranking Member, House Natural Resources Committee
The Honorable Sam Graves, Chair, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
The Honorable Rick Larsen, Ranking Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
