Flagstaff鈥檚 congressional representative introduced a last week to bolster cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines in the Western United States, including uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.
The bill from Rep. Eli Crane and co-sponsored by fellow Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton would formalize the (OMDP) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The OMDP was created during President Donald Trump鈥檚 first term but never received congressional authorization.
If approved, Crane鈥檚 legislation would codify the office and give it congressionally mandated priorities.
Crane previously introduced a similar bill, the , in October of last year, and Sen. Mark Kelly introduced an earlier version in late 2022. The included authorization of $100 million in funding for the OMDP that was absent from the 2024 bill. Neither ultimately became law.
A press release from Crane鈥檚 office stated that Kelly and Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, who co-sponsored the 2022 bill, would introduce companion legislation in the Senate.
Crane鈥檚 press release noted that the bill would 鈥淓ncourage the EPA to prioritize responsible mine cleanup in Arizona over green initiatives.鈥� He did not specify what other initiatives he was referring to, but under President Trump, the EPA has pledged to revoke grants relating to bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure, electric vehicles and climate change. The EPA and other cabinet agencies have publicly committed to of uranium and fossil fuels in the coming years.
The text of the 2025 bill is not yet available on Congress' official website, and thus comparison to prior versions was not immediately possible.
鈥淎s we work to support domestic mining of critical minerals, it鈥檚 crucial that we remain committed to doing so responsibly. The consequences of poor stewardship are detrimental for the health and safety of those living in rural Arizona, particularly on the Navajo Nation,鈥� Crane stated in the release. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would help ensure reasonable and timely cleanup and increased congressional oversight of the process.鈥�
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren also supported the new legislation. In a statement released by Crane鈥檚 office, Nygren said, 鈥淭his legislation is a critical step forward in addressing the long-standing health and environmental impacts of abandoned hardrock mines, especially on the Navajo Nation. By codifying the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains at the EPA, this bill ensures Tribal nations like ours have a meaningful voice in mine cleanup efforts that directly impact our communities.鈥�
There are more than 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo reservation, many dating back to the Cold War-era uranium boom. Many Navajo miners who worked in those mines , and radiation exposure from homes further impacted the community's health.聽
鈥淲e have lived with the consequences of these abandoned sites for far too long鈥� this act represents accountability, cooperation and real progress,鈥� Nygren continued. 鈥淎h茅hee始 to everyone who has helped move this issue forward."