Take action: Protect our clean water from mine waste

Lower Slate Lake in Alaska, being used as a mine waste dump for the Kensington mine. Credit: Pat Costello

The Friends is joining our partners at Earthworks to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to stop letting mining companies dump their waste in lakes and rivers.

Urge the Obama administration to protect our clean water from toxic mine waste

A recent Supreme Court ruling poses a severe threat to our nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands, and reverses over three decades of responsible mining policy. The June ruling exempts toxic mine waste — classified as “fill” — from certain regulations under the Clean Water Act: legalizing its dumping in our precious waters.

Lower Slate Lake, before being used as a mine waste dump. Credit: Pat Costello

Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972 to protect our waterways from being used as waste disposal sites. However, in 2002, the Bush administration redefined “fill” to include industrial waste, permitting mining companies to dump toxin-laden waste material into our nation’s waterways.

For three decades, mining companies have been operating successfully without this type of irresponsible mine waste disposal. The Obama Administration should reverse this policy and protect our clean water.

Click here to take action right now »