Keystone Staffer Informs Congress on Mine Clean-Up Reforms

Good Samaritan Reforms Would Empower State, Tribes, Local Actors to Tackle Toxic Mine Runoff

WASHINGTON, October 22, 2015 — Senior Policy Director Doug Young testified before the U.S. House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee this week in an effort to inform lawmakers on possible solutions to address the national problem of abandoned mines leaking highly toxic runoff into western waterways. Young, a former congressional staffer and adviser to multiple Colorado governors, specifically focused on “Good Samaritan” reforms.

Young testified on past efforts to pass Good Samaritan reforms — legislation that would allow third parties, including states and tribes, to remediate abandoned mine sites without incurring legal liability — and described Keystone’s ongoing work to find a collaborative way forward.

Click HERE to watch Doug’s testimony. Click HERE to read his written testimony.

“Faced with the challenges abandoned mine sites present to our nation’s waterways, wildlife, and quality of life, Keystone is working to find collaborative ways to empower and unleash Good Samaritan clean-up efforts,” said Christine Scanlan, president and CEO of the Keystone Policy Center. “The fact that Congress asked Doug to testify about possible ways forward only underscores how Keystone is at the forefront of confronting this national problem. We look forward to working with lawmakers and other key stakeholders to reach common higher ground.”

About Keystone Policy Center
Keystone Policy Center brings together crucial teams of stakeholders who have diverse individual perspectives but recognize a common need to address urgent issues with lasting solutions. For more than 40 years, Keystone has helped leaders move beyond fixed positions toward collaborative, action-oriented approaches to problem-solving. In this age of polarized debate on nearly every major topic in public policy, Keystone offers a refreshing yet proven blueprint for progress.