Good Samaritan act enables first mine cleanup in Washington state
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Trout Unlimited, a conservation nonprofit in the western United States, received the first permit under the 2024 Good Samaritan Act to begin cleaning up abandoned mine waste in Washington state.
The US Environmental Protection Agency issued the permit allowing the group to remediate the Bodie Mine site in Okanogan County, approximately 140 miles northwest of Spokane.
For decades, abandoned mines across the country have polluted rivers and streams with toxins because no one was held responsible for the cleanup and volunteers faced legal risks. The Good Samaritan Act, passed after 20 years of advocacy, creates a pilot program that protects state agencies and nonprofits from liability while they address pollution from these historic sites.
The Bodie Mine project will focus on removing tailings, the waste material left after separating valuable metals from ore, and restoring streambanks along Toroda Creek. These tailings often contain dangerous heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, stated the law will encourage more cleanup efforts.
The organization has previously worked to improve salmon habitats in California, and this new permit signals a broader effort to address mine pollution throughout the Columbia River Basin and beyond.
