The measure establishes within the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains. The Office will be led by a Director chosen by the EPA Administrator. Its role is to coordinate EPA headquarters, Regional Offices, other Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, local partners, and stakeholders on cleanup actions at land and water affected by past hardrock mining, including Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mine sites. The Office will identify and share best practices, promote innovative cleanup and reuse approaches, look for waste storage and disposal solutions, encourage small business contracting opportunities, and provide technical assistance. It must make an annual priority mine list and report to specified congressional committees, support improved cleanup processes and Tribal consultations, and develop a 10-year interagency plan for Navajo Nation abandoned uranium mine sites by September 30, 2028 and every 10 years after. The text says the measure does not create new regulatory authority or set a default cleanup standard.
The text does not provide total cost estimates or an overall appropriation. The required interagency plan for Navajo Nation sites must include projected appropriations needed to meet plan goals, but any work is subject to appropriations and funding from potentially responsible parties. No publicly available information on overall budget amounts beyond what is stated in the text.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.