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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the availability of the final guidance titled "Guidance on Financial Assurance Requirements in the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024." 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. The guidance announced in this notice provides direction to applicants on fulfilling the financial assurance component of Good Samaritan permits.