Good Samaritan Implementation Kickoff Summit

On April 10, 2025, the Good Samaritan Kickoff Summit—hosted by the Colorado School of Mines National Science Foundation (NSF) Responsible Critical Minerals Team in partnership with Trout Unlimited—brought together a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from federal and state agencies, Tribal representation, NGOs, the EPA, the mining industry, academic research institutions, and alternative treatment technologies. The primary objective of the summit was to inform the scoping process for the forthcoming Good Samaritan Pilot Program by providing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with early input to support the development of implementing regulations or guidance under Section 4(s) of the Act. The Good Samaritan program, administered by the EPA, is intended to facilitate the voluntary cleanup of abandoned hardrock mine sites. By offering limited liability protections for remediation activities, the program aims to remove significant barriers that have historically discouraged parties—such as NGOs, industry partners, and state agencies—from undertaking cleanups for fear of perpetual legal exposure.