Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Program
On December 17, 2024, the President signed into law the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024.
Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024.
The Act promotes the remediation of abandoned hardrock mine sites by Good Samaritans. Under the Act, Good Samaritans may apply to obtain investigative and/or remediation permits and implement remediation projects at eligible abandoned hardrock mine sites. The Good Samaritan is shielded from certain liability risks while voluntarily implementing the remediation of an abandoned hardrock mine within the terms of their permit.
What is the Good Samaritan Program?
The Good Samaritan Program was established for the purpose of permitting eligible persons or entities to undertake appropriate remediation projects without taking on Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and/or Clean Water Act liability. A Good Samaritan permit holder is exempt from obtaining certain authorizations, permits, and licenses for the project while operating within the terms of their permit.
What are the goals of the Program?
The proposed activities, as compared to the baseline conditions described in the permit, should be designed to make measurable progress toward achieving applicable water standards, improved soil quality, improved sediment quality, other improved environmental or safety conditions, or reductions in threats to soil, sediment, or water quality or other environmental or safety conditions.
How does the Pilot Program work?
The Act allows up to 15 Good Samaritan permits. It also allows EPA to grant investigative sampling permits that may be converted into Good Samaritan permits. If the permit is for a project on private, state, or Tribal lands, EPA reviews and approves the permit (including completing the required NEPA analysis). If the permit is for a project on federal lands, the applicable federal land management agency (e.g., Department of the Interior for land managed by the Bureau of Land Management or Department of Agriculture for land managed by the Forest Service) will also review and approve the permit (including completing the required NEPA analysis). EPA is working on the process for applicants to submit permit applications. Please check back for further information.
Information for Potential Good Samaritan Permit Applicants
EPA is standing up the Good Samaritan program. Below is information for potential Good Samaritans to develop their permit application. EPA encourages “pre-application meetings” with staff as early as possible to assist with project understanding, eligibility questions and schedule expectations.
To learn more about past Good Samaritan activities, see "What Fuels Our Work".
Good Samaritan Applicant Eligibility
Good Samaritan Permit Application Flowchart - Conceptual (pdf)
(52.56 KB, August 5, 2025)
EPA Good Samaritan Act - Financial Assurance Guidance, Final
After a 30-day public notice in the Federal Register and receipt of comments, EPA is issuing its final Financial Assurance (FA) guidance under the Good Samaritan Act of 2024. EPA considered all comments received, revised the draft guidance as appropriate, and created a Response to Comments document. This guidance will assist in fulfilling the FA component of Good Samaritan permits and does not cover other permit requirements. This guidance defines terms relevant to FA, discusses an initial and potentially modified project budget and FA mechanism, and describes how FA may be accessed and released by EPA with, as appropriate, the relevant federal land management agency.
Good Samaritan Financial Assurance Guidance EPA Response to Public Comments and Questions (pdf) (855.82 KB)
EPA Good Samaritan Mine Cleanup Program Webinar
Date & Time: Dec 2, 2025, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
Registration link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vQNgCUfMQ4S8RpoEJEbjcA
Webinar Purpose: The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 was signed into law on December 17, 2024. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing a Good Samaritan mine cleanup program to implement a new, more efficient strategy to address abandoned hardrock mines. EPA’s December Good Sam webinar is for all interested parties – private, public, State and local governments, Tribes, and non-governmental organizations. EPA will cover the scope of the legacy abandoned mine problem in the U.S., highlight key aspects of the law, discuss the program’s permitting process and NEPA review, and explain the program’s goals and implementation timelines.
Additional Good Sam Information
Western Governors’ Association “Out West” Podcast 10/16/2025
EPA announced it will begin reviewing applications for these 15 projects in November. To examine the launch of the new program, the association’s Executive Director, Jack Waldorf, sat down with Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, one of the bill’s original co-sponsors, who also tackled this issue as Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2018.
In this episode of the Out West podcast, you’ll also hear from WGA Policy Advisor Abby Pelsmaeker, who spoke with David Hockey, the Acting Director of EPA’s Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains; Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited; and Rob Ghiglieri, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Minerals.
A Good Samaritan is a person that, with respect to historic mine residue (as defined by the Act) —
(A) is not a past or current owner or operator of the abandoned hardrock mine site at which the historic mine residue is located; or a portion of that abandoned hardrock mine site;
(B) had no role in the creation of the historic mine residue; and
(C) is not potentially liable under any federal, state, Tribal, or local law for the remediation, treatment, or control of the historic mine residue.