In testimony before Congress, Trout Unlimited president and CEO, Chris Wood made the case for common-sense reforms to mining laws and increased funding to clean up abandoned mines.
The hearing focused on several proposed bills that, if enacted, would enable the expansion and improved regulation of critical minerals development.
According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt could increase by as much as six times by 2040. Securing domestic supply chains for these materials is important for the economic and national security of the United States, as well as clean energy technologies but must be balanced with protecting our coldwater rivers and streams.
From passing the Good Samaritan Law to working with decision-makers on responsible energy development, Trout Unlimited has a proven track record of finding common ground on such reforms.
“To be certain, there is no constituency for acid mine waste and orange rivers. There is, however, a bipartisan commitment to clean up abandoned mines, encourage responsible mining and propel the needs of a clean energy future, while making our rivers and streams cleaner and our communities healthier,” Wood said in his testimony. “Working together, we have an opportunity to craft a path forward that is collaborative, innovative and responsible.”
A legacy of pollution, solutions within reach
More than 533,000 abandoned hardrock mines pollute our public lands, many leaking toxic heavy metals like arsenic and lead into coldwater rivers and streams. While modern mining regulations have improved, the backlog of abandoned mines remains a major challenge for water quality and trout habitat. Federal agencies have spent about $287 million annually to identify and clean up these sites, but the need far outstrips available funding.
“Tens of thousands of abandoned legacy mines negatively affect our nation’s waters. The reality is that this is a completely solvable problem.” – Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited.
Trout Unlimited has been at the forefront of abandoned mine cleanup for decades. Since launching its abandoned mine reclamation program in 2004, TU has completed over 50 projects, restoring more than 200 miles of streams in the West.
“Our technical, partner-based approach has enabled us to become an industry leader in abandoned mine restoration,” Wood said. “But we need a systemic funding solution to scale this work.”
Last year, Congress passed the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024. While the law creates a 15-project pilot program that will speed up the remediation of these sites, long-term, dedicated funding is still needed to address over 110,000 miles of impaired streams, 52 percent of which impact important drinking water sources.
Securing a fair royalty to fund mine cleanups
The solution: a fair royalty on hardrock minerals extracted from public lands.
Unlike coal, oil and gas industries, hardrock mining companies currently pay no royalties on hardrock minerals like gold, copper and lithium. Importantly, a reasonable net royalty dedicated to abandoned mine cleanups is a policy that some in the mining industry have signaled an openness to considering, including during the hearing. This can be an area of common ground for mining and conservation interests alike, providing an opportunity for collaboration to help find a path forward.
“The coal industry alone has paid more than $12 billion in royalties associated to help clean up abandoned coal mines across Appalachia and parts of the West. If we can do it with coal, we can do it with hardrock minerals, especially given the immense need.”
Balancing critical minerals with conservation
With demand for critical minerals rising and the need to create a secure domestic supply, Wood stressed the urgency for responsible mining practices that minimize harm to native trout habitat: “Rare earth minerals, and minerals generally, are absolutely vital for the future of this country. So, I’d rather mine them here and give industry the certainty it needs, while providing the protection that conservation demands.”
He also called for reforms to the 1872 Mining Law that would give land managers more discretion to protect sensitive fish and wildlife habitats, sacred cultural sites and drinking water supplies from mining impacts.
A bipartisan path forward
“We have fought and bickered and disagreed over mining on public lands for over 100 years. Certainly, there is a common-sense compromise within our reach that would provide sufficient, dedicated funding for abandoned mine cleanups, allow that certain landscapes are inappropriate for mining and at that same time address the legal and regulatory certainty needed for investment by the hardrock mining industry.”