Hecla Mining Co. is opening an office in Idaho’s Silver Valley to keep local residents abreast of future expansions at the Lucky Friday Mine and the company’s role in environmental cleanup in the area.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo will speak at the grand opening of the new office at 10:30 a.m. Friday at 611 Bank St. in Wallace. The event is open to the public.

“The one constant for Hecla in nearly 120 years of mining throughout North and South America has been our presence and operations in the Silver Valley,” said Phil Baker, Hecla’s present and CEO.

Over the next 12 months, Baker said company officials will make decisions about the future of the Lucky Friday Mine in Mullan, Idaho. A $150 million to $200 million expansion of the mine is under consideration, which allow the company to access silver deposits below the existing workings.

Hecla’s corporate offices were located in Wallace until 1986, when the company moved its headquarters to Coeur d’Alene.

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