New EPA Office Targets Legacy Mine Cleanup: Mandates 10-Year Plan for Navajo Uranium Sites by 2028

The Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 is basically giving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a new, dedicated clean-up crew for abandoned hardrock mines. This legislation creates the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains inside the EPA to coordinate and accelerate the remediation of contaminated sites where mining activity has stopped—what the bill calls a “covered mine site.” The new office is tasked with coordinating between federal agencies, Tribes, and private groups, and crucially, it must start issuing an annual list of the most critical mine sites needing immediate cleanup action, whether they are Superfund sites or not. This is an organizational move meant to cut through the bureaucracy that often stalls complex environmental cleanups.

The New Cleanup Boss: What the Office Does

Think of the new Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains as the central nervous system for mine cleanup. Its main job is coordination, not writing new rules. The bill explicitly states this section doesn't give the EPA any new regulatory power—it just uses the power the EPA already has under laws like CERCLA (Superfund). Its success hinges on getting everyone on the same page: the Interior Department, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and even state and Tribal governments. For the average person, this means that cleanup efforts near their community might actually move faster if this coordination works, especially if the site has been stuck in interagency limbo.

Prioritizing the Mess and Who Pays the Bills

One of the most practical requirements is the annual Priority Mine List. Every year, the EPA must identify the most dangerous abandoned mine sites and report their status to Congress. This provides much-needed transparency and focus on sites that pose the highest risk to health and the environment. Furthermore, the Office is mandated to encourage small businesses to participate in the cleanup contracting process. If you run a small environmental remediation firm, this bill aims to make it easier for you to land government contracts, which is a win for local economies and small business owners.

A Decades-Overdue Focus on the Navajo Nation

This legislation puts a specific, critical focus on the abandoned uranium mines plaguing the Navajo Nation. By September 30, 2028, the EPA must work with other federal agencies to create a 10-year plan dedicated solely to assessing and cleaning up these legacy uranium sites. This plan must set clear goals, target dates, and project the necessary federal funding. This is a huge deal for Tribal communities who have dealt with the health consequences of these sites for generations. However, there’s a catch: the bill stipulates that the target dates for cleanup are “contingent on funding.” In plain English, if Congress doesn't appropriate the necessary money, those 10-year goals could become 20-year goals, or longer. The plan is mandatory, but the funding is not guaranteed, which is a key detail to watch.