Four Firms Agree On Mine Clean-Up

Four companies have agreed to a multi-million-dollar pact with the state and federal government to clean up the Blackbird Mine near Salmon.

The Idaho attorney general’s office said the consent order for U.S. District Court finally was approved at 6:15 p.m., on Friday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates the 10-year cleanup will cost up to $53.5 million to deal with the old cobalt and copper mine.

Acid mining drainage killed off about 2,000 salmon that used to spawn in Panther Creek, a major tributary of the Salmon River.