State, Hecla Agree On Cleanup

The state of Idaho won’t sue Hecla Mining Co. for at least five years, and will keep working toward an out-of-court resolution over environmental damage to the Coeur d’Alene River basin.

In return, Hecla has agreed to continue its contributions to several projects designed to remove heavy metals from streams.

“This just formalizes what’s already been happening,” said spokeswoman Vicki Veltkamp.

Hecla is paying 14.8 percent of the costs of projects such as the restoration of Nine Mile Creek and Canyon Creek in Shoshone County. Most of the costs are coming from the Silver Valley Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The fund was created by a 1986 settlement between the state and other mining companies.

Hecla’s agreement with Idaho means money won’t be diverted from cleanup to litigation.

, DataTimes