Cleanup payment made

Hecla Mining Co. has made a $77.4 million payment to the United States government as part of a settlement to clean up the Silver Valley of North Idaho.

Hecla will pay an additional $42.3 million in August 2014 as part of the deal to clean up the Bunker Hill Superfund site in Kellogg, which for decades produced silver and other metals.

“Hecla’s payment marks the largest collection ever posted by the United States attorney’s office in the District of Idaho,” said Wendy Olson, U.S. attorney for the state, who announced the payments Tuesday.

Hecla, which is based in Coeur d’Alene, has also paid damages to the state of Idaho and to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe as part of a settlement that totaled $263.4 million plus interest.

The settlement with the nation’s largest silver producer was announced in June, following years of litigation.