,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ebid ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ai1 #bjbb,mr4 ,kelly 7for himself and ,ms4 ,lummis7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,comprehensive ,environmental ,response1 ,compensation1 and ,liability ,act of #aihj to establish within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency the ,office of ,mountains1 ,deserts1 and ,plains1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,legacy ,mine ,cleanup ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,office of ,mountains1 ,deserts1 and ,plains ,title ,i of the ,comprehensive ,environmental ,response1 ,compensation1 and ,liability ,act of #aihj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ifja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #abi4 ,office of ,mountains1 ,deserts1 and ,plains 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate2 7,d7 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate2 7,e7 the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,f7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,g7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,h7 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,i7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,j7 the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,covered mine ,the term covered mine means an abandoned hardrock mine site4 7#c7 ,eligible non-,,npl site ,the term eligible non-,,npl site means a site-- 7,a7 that is not on the ,national ,priorities ,list2 but 7,b7 with respect to which the ,administrator determines that-- 7i7 the site would be eligible for listing on the ,national ,priorities ,list based on the presence of hazards from contamination at the site1 applying the hazard ranking system described in section #aje7;c72 and 7ii7 for removal site evaluations1 engineering evaluations_/cost analyses1 remedial planning activities1 remedial investigations and feasibility studies1 and other actions taken pursuant to section #ajd7;b71 the site-- 7,i7 has undergone a pre-,,cercla screening2 and 7,,ii7 is included in the ,superfund ,enterprise ,management ,system4 7#d7 ,navajo ,nation abandoned uranium mine site ,the term ,navajo ,nation abandoned uranium mine site means an abandoned uranium mine site on land of the ,navajo ,nation4 7#e7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,mountains1 ,deserts1 and ,plains established by subsection 7b77#a74 7#f7 ,regional ,office ,the term ,regional ,office means a ,regional ,office of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency the ,office of ,mountains1 ,deserts1 and ,plains4 7#b7 ,director ,the ,office shall be headed by a ,director1 to be appointed by the ,administrator 7or a designee74 7c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,office shall be-- 7#a7 to coordinate and provide oversight over response actions of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency carried out at a covered mine in accordance with this ,act2 7#b7 to establish and disseminate best practices for covered mine response actions1 including identifying innovative technologies and reuse approaches that support those response actions2 7#c7 to collaborate with ,regional ,offices1 ,federal land management agencies1 ,states1 and voluntary nongovernmental organizations1 watershed groups1 nonliable mining companies1 and other entities to facilitate voluntary response actions at covered mines2 7#d7 to lead ,environmental ,protection ,agency efforts to coordinate and expedite the completion of response actions at covered mines on ,tribal land1 including ,navajo ,nation abandoned uranium mine sites2 7#e7 to coordinate with the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,energy1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,nuclear ,regulatory ,commission1 and other ,federal agencies1 as the ,administrator determines to be appropriate1 to ensure interagency coordination of covered mine response actions1 with priority given to coordinating1 and where possible1 combining1 ,federal efforts to fund response actions at covered mines for which there is no potentially responsible party2 and 7#f7 to carry out other actions1 as determined to be necessary by the ,administrator-- 7,a7 to support efforts to investigate1 characterize1 or cleanup a discharge1 release1 or threat of release of a hazardous substance1 pollutant1 or contaminant into the environment at or from a covered mine2 or 7,b7 to otherwise protect and improve human health and the environment4 7d7 ,duties ,the ,administrator shall carry out through the ,office1 at a minimum1 the following duties3 7#a7 ,emphasis list 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish a list of covered mines that are prioritized for response actions under this ,act4 7,b7 ,updates2 reports ,the ,administrator shall annually-- 7i7 update the list under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report describing the covered mines on the list4 7,c7 ,coordination ,the ,administrator shall-- 7i7 regularly coordinate with ,regional ,offices1 ,federal agencies1 ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and stakeholders to make progress with respect to the covered mines on the list under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 ensure that ,regional ,offices make progress with respect to each covered mine on the list4 7#b7 ,community engagement ,the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 maintain and update1 as needed1 best practices for engaging with local communities with respect to response actions on covered mines2 and 7,b7 coordinate with ,regional ,offices to support engagement with local communities described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,process improvement 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall-- 7i7 establish a standard process for developing1 reviewing1 and approving site assessments1 remedial investigations1 and feasibility studies for covered mines2 7ii7 conduct research of1 and identify1 technologies and remedial and removal approaches that are the most successful in limiting the acute and chronic risks posted to human health and the environment by covered mines2 7iii7 to the extent technically feasible1 establish remedial and removal standards for various types of covered mines1 including type of mineral and design2 and 7iv7 support-- 7,i7 consultations with ,indian tribes with respect to covered mines2 and 7,,ii7 efforts to provide regular updates to all levels a ,tribal government with respect to response actions for covered mines4 7,b7 ,tribal consultation ,in supporting consultations with ,indian tribes under subparagraph 7,a77iv77,i71 the ,administrator shall-- 7i7 share all available covered mine data with ,tribal partners2 and 7ii7 ensure that ,tribal allottee right-of-way regulations of the ,eastern ,regional ,office of the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs are followed4 7#d7 ,interagency plan to address uranium contamination on the ,navajo ,nation ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 and not less frequently than once every #e years thereafter1 the ,administrator1 in consultation with all levels of affected ,tribal governments1 shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report describing a multi-year interagency plan for the coordination of the ,federal ,government with ,states and ,tribal governments to carry out response actions at ,navajo ,nation abandoned uranium mine sites1 including-- 7,a7 goals for the assessment of1 and response actions at1 ,navajo ,nation abandoned uranium mine sites2 7,b7 target dates by which goals described in subparagraph 7,a7 are anticipated to be achieved2 and 7,c7 the activities to be carried out by each ,federal agency under the plan4 7#e7 ,administrative and technical assistance ,the ,administrator shall1 as appropriate1 provide to ,states1 units of local government1 ,indian tribes1 and other entities technical assistance with respect to response actions on covered mines4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations for superfund actions at abandoned hardrock mining sites on ,tribal land 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to amounts otherwise available1 there are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjcb1 to remain available until expended-- 7,a7 #ig1jjj1jjj to the ,administrator to carry out this subsection 7except for paragraph 7#c772 and 7,b7 #c1jjj1jjj to the ,administrator of the ,agency for ,toxic ,substances and ,disease ,registry to carry out paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,uses of amounts ,amounts appropriated under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall be used by the ,administrator-- 7,a7 to carry out removal actions on abandoned hardrock mine land located on ,tribal land2 7,b7 to carry out response actions1 including removal and remedial planning activities1 removal and remedial studies1 remedial actions1 and other actions taken pursuant to section #ajd7;b7 on abandoned hardrock mine land located on ,tribal land at-- 7i7 eligible non-,,npl sites2 and 7ii7 sites listed on the ,national ,priorities ,list2 and 7,c7 to make grants under paragraph 7#d74 7#c7 ,health assessments ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 the ,agency for ,toxic ,substances and ,disease ,registry1 in coordination with ,tribal health authorities1 shall perform #a or more health assessments at each eligible non-,,npl site that is located on ,tribal land4 7#d7 ,tribal grants 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may use amounts appropriated under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 to make grants to eligible entities for the purposes described in subparagraph 7,c74 7,b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity that is eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph is-- 7i7 the governing body of an ,indian tribe2 and 7ii7 a legally established organization of ,indians that-- 7,i7 is controlled1 sanctioned1 or chartered by the governing bodies of #a or more ,indian tribes to be served1 or that is democratically elected by the adult members of the ,indian community to be served1 by that organization2 and 7,,ii7 includes the maximum participation of ,indians in all phases of the activities of that organization4 7,c7 ,use of grant funds ,a grant under this paragraph shall be used-- 7i7 for carrying out activities in accordance with the second sentence of section #aag7;e77#a72 7ii7 for obtaining technical assistance in carrying out response actions under clause 7iii72 or 7iii7 for carrying out response actions1 if the ,administrator determines that the ,indian tribe has the capability to carry out any or all of those response actions in accordance with the criteria and priorities established pursuant to section #aje7;a77#h74 7,d7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require4 7,e7 ,cost share ,the ,federal share of the cost of activities carried out using a grant under this paragraph shall be #ajj percent4 7#e7 ,statute of limitations ,if a response action described in paragraph 7#b77;,b7 is scheduled at an eligible non-,,npl site1 no action may be commenced for damages with respect to that eligible non-,,npl site unless the action is commenced within the timeframe provided for such actions with respect to facilities on the ,national ,priorities ,list in the first sentence of the matter following subparagraph 7,b7 of section #aac7;g77#a74 7#f7 ,coordination ,the ,administrator shall coordinate with the ,indian tribe on whose land the applicable site is located in-- 7,a7 selecting and prioritizing sites for response actions under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 carrying out those response actions4 4 #c4 ,abandoned and inactive noncoal mine restoration ,section #efj of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #aiii 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #bccf7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c71 by inserting or on land taken into trust by the ,secretary of the ,interior on behalf of1 and for the benefit of1 an ,indian ,tribe after land owned by the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7f71 by striking #cj1jjj1jjj and inserting #ej1jjj1jjj4