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Twenty-five amendments were offered for H.R. 2262, which would bring in royalties on hardrock minerals that would fund the cleanup of abandoned mines. But in the end, seven were allowed by the committee, with five from Republicans and the other two from Democrats.

Among the proposed amendments the House will take up are:

• A proposal by Rahall to clarify the definition of "valid existing rights" associated with existing mining claims.

• A proposal by Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to direct 40 percent of the funds deposited in to the Hardrock Reclamation Fund to states in proportion to the royalty funds generated by the bill.

• A proposal by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) that would allow river watershed areas to be considered as eligible to receive funding from the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund.

While most of the amendments cleared by the committee are new, Rep. Steve Pearce's (R-N.M.) proposal for the formation of a minerals commodity information office will get a second chance on the floor. The proposal for the office, which would maintain information on domestic mineral supplies, failed during the House Natural Resources Committee's markup session last week.

Rahall opposed the amendment, telling the Rules Committee it was the Republicans that eliminated the former agency that handled the information -- the Bureau of Mines -- when they took over Congress in 1994.

He added that he would support discussing a resurrection of the office as its own piece of legislation.

Udall introduces Good Samaritan bill to clean up abandoned mines

While the full House will take up Rahall's bill today to provide badly needed funding for abandoned mine cleanup, Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) introduced legislation yesterday to encourage voluntary cleanup of mines without fear of litigation.

Udall's "Good Samaritan Cleanup of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2007" would create a program under the Clean Water Act allowing individuals and companies to apply for permits to clean up abandoned mines while remaining protected from liability for the mine's mess.

"There are people and groups who would like to work to clean them up, but who are deterred by the concern that they might be held legally liable for the problems they want to correct," Udall said in a statement. "This bill would provide a way for them to be shielded against that threat."

The legislation would still require Good Samaritans to ensure they do not adversely affect water quality through their cleanup efforts.

During hearings for H.R. 2262, witnesses have repeatedly called for Good Samaritan legislation, claiming it would expedite the cleanup of the tens of thousands of abandoned mines across the country.

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