Fact Sheet: SB 218

This bill is very simple. It’s about who should pay for clean up and water treatment after mining: the mining company or the taxpayer? Reclamation bonds for mines are intended to provide financial guarantees to the state and taxpayer that adequate funds are in place for reclamation and water treatment in the event the mining company files for bankruptcy or otherwise can’t pay for cleanup. Adequate reclamation bonds are particularly critical for mines with sulfide mineralization because they can result in acid mine drainage that requires costly water treatment to protect fish, water supplies, and public health.