Notice2025-15352

Financial Assurance Guidance for the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024

Primary source

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Published
August 13, 2025

Issuing agencies

Environmental Protection Agency

Abstract

In the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024, as part of the permit application, Good Samaritan applicants must provide financial assurance for every project. This document provides guidance in drafting and fulfilling the financial assurance components of Good Samaritan permits. This guidance defines relevant terms, discusses initial and modified cost estimates and financial assurance mechanisms, and describes how financial assurance may be accessed and released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 154 (Wednesday, August 13, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 38975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15352]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OLEM-2025-0586; 12864-01-OLEM]


Financial Assurance Guidance for the Good Samaritan Remediation 
of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines 
Act of 2024, as part of the permit application, Good Samaritan 
applicants must provide financial assurance for every project. This 
document provides guidance in drafting and fulfilling the financial 
assurance components of Good Samaritan permits. This guidance defines 
relevant terms, discusses initial and modified cost estimates and 
financial assurance mechanisms, and describes how financial assurance 
may be accessed and released by the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 12, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-
2025-0586 to EPA online using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (our 
preferred method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460. EPA's policy is that all comments received will 
be included in the public docket without change including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, 
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamey Watt, Office of Mountains, 
Deserts and Plains, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Mail Code 5106P, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
566-0196; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6611071212480c070b031f2603160748010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eb9c8a9f9fc5818a868e92ab8e9b8ac58c849d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned 
Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 (the Act) establishes a pilot program 
authorizing the Administrator of the EPA, among other things, to grant 
up to 15 Good Samaritan permits for low-risk projects designed to 
remediate abandoned hardrock mine sites. The Administrator may grant a 
permit only if, among other considerations, the applicant for that 
permit has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Administrator that 
the applicant has, or has access to, the financial resources to 
complete the project or has established a third-party financial 
assurance mechanism. In the event a Good Samaritan does not complete 
permit requirements, financial assurance funds secured under a third-
party mechanism are intended to provide funding to complete the 
permitted work and for the purpose of carrying out the Act without the 
use of taxpayer funds.

Lee Zeldin,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2025-15352 Filed 8-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on August 13, 2025.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.