Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025

This bill creates a new office inside the Environmental Protection Agency to speed up cleanup of old hardrock mine sites on federal, state, Tribal, local, and private lands, including nearby rivers and streams. The office will coordinate work across EPA headquarters, regional offices, Tribes, states, other federal agencies, and community and volunteer groups. It will set best practices, support use of new cleanup technologies, and encourage small business contracting for these projects. The EPA must also make a yearly list of priority mine sites and report on progress. This law does not give EPA any new regulatory powers beyond what it already has .

The bill focuses special attention on uranium contamination on Navajo Nation lands. EPA, working with other federal health and energy agencies and in consultation with affected Tribal governments, must develop a 10‑year cleanup plan by September 30, 2028, and update it at least every 10 years. EPA will also provide technical help to states, local governments, Tribes, and others doing mine cleanups, and will support government‑to‑government Tribal consultation throughout the process .

• Who is affected | What changes | When
• Communities near old hardrock mines; Tribes; small businesses | New EPA office coordinates cleanups, sets best practices, and issues annual priority site list and report | Annual priority list and report each year; Navajo Nation 10‑year plan due by Sept. 30, 2028, then at least every 10 years