Sen. Kelly highlights bill to clean up abandoned mines and water

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Senator Mark Kelly stressed the need to pass the bipartisan Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act.

Accordingly, this is in keeping with Kelly's commitment to protect Arizona's water resources and clean up abandoned mines.

Furthermore, the bill would allow "Good Samaritans" to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned mines.

For further context, these "Samaritans" include states, local governments, non-profits, and other groups.

“Abandoned uranium mines – including those on the Navajo Nation - pose an acute health risk to those living nearby. And throughout Arizona, abandoned zinc, copper, and lead mines pose a risk to surface water and groundwater quality. At a time of historic drought, these threats to potential sources of drinking water must be taken seriously,” Kelly spoke at an EPW Subcommittee hearing.

100,000 abandoned mine sites

Not only that, Kelly requested that the Committee hold a hearing on the legislation, offering potential tools to remedy of the approximately 100,000 abandoned mine sites.

Highlighting the importance of this legislation, Kelly invited Department of Environmental Quality Director Misael Cabrera.

In her speech, she spoke about the risks posed by the abandoned mine sites to Arizona's groundwater.

“We are a desert region. Water is very precious. For the most part, for us, groundwater equals drinking water,” Cabrera expressed.