The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently created the Office of Mountains, Deserts and Plains located in the EPA’s office in Lakewood, Colorado. This western lands-focused office will assume oversight responsibilities for federal hardrock mining cleanup sites west of the Mississippi River.
The office will also be the central contact for other federal agencies, states and tribes and develop innovative technologies and adaptive management approaches to address legacy pollution. The EPA said it will also support efforts of conservation organizations to voluntarily undertake projects to improve conditions at abandoned mines.
Born out of lessons learned at sites across the country such as the Bonita Peak Mining District in Colorado and Silver Bow Creek Superfund site in Butte, Montana, the EPA said it developed this new office to focus on the complex and unique issues related to hardrock mining cleanup and the communities in which they are located. The office will improve the EPA’s ability to respond to the range of special issues and unique needs associated with Western mining sites in EPA Regions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The new office will drive accountability, streamline cleanup efforts, and better facilitate coordination with states, local and tribal partners, according to the EPA.
“The West is a special place, with special environmental challenges deserving of its own office within EPA,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, this new office will provide effective solutions, and achieve important milestones in the cleanup of hardrock mining Superfund sites in the American West as well as foster great partnerships with states, tribes and local communities. Done are the days of a one-size-fits-all approach to remediation.”
The director of the Office of Mountains, Deserts and Plains will report directly to Peter Wright, the assistant administrator for Land and Emergency Management. The office will employ five to nine full-time employees at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood.
