The American Water Works Assn. applauded the work of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Monday for its efforts in advancing "Good Samaritan" legislation for the cleanup of orphaned mines.
In a letter to committee chair Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and ranking member Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the association noted the large number of abandoned hard rock mines in the West and the miles and miles of streams threatened by old coal mines in the East. The draft legislation would address liability concerns for those acting as "Good Samaritans" acting responsibly to clean up these abandoned mines. U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, chair of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, began work on similar legislation in the House last fall.
Source: AWWA
