EPA v. Hecla Mining Company - Lucky Friday Mine

Case summary

On October 16, 2024, Region 10 filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order resolving CWA violations of the NPDES Permit covering discharges from Hecla's Lucky Friday Mine facility in Mullan, Idaho. From January of 2018 through February of 2024, discharges from Lucky Friday Mine to the South Fork of Coeur d'Alene River violated lead, copper, and zinc limits (including an April 2020 sample showing zinc levels exceeded daily zinc limit by more than 42,000%) in the Clean Water Act permit around 200 times . The Mine also failed to submit BMP Plan certification and conduct e coli and Whole Effluent Toxicity monitoring. Hecla's numerous metal exceedance, including several at enormous magnitude over the permit limit, has had serious potential impacts to cold water aquatic life, including salmonid spawning, in the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River (already limited by historic heavy metals in the River). Hecla has agreed to pay a $174,300 monetary penalty and elected to implement a riparian restoration Supplemental Environmental Project (estimated to cost $299,000) upstream of the Mine on the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River to improve the habitats for fish and other aquatic animals by lowering temperatures, creating refugia and stabilizing streambanks.

Defendants (1)

• Hecla Mining CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (9)

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

• HECLA LTD - LUCKY FRIDAY MINE AND MILL

  397 FRIDAY AVE, MULLAN, ID, 83846

  Registry ID: 110041927378

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Hecla Mining Company - Lucky Friday Mineentered 2024-10-16

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $174,300 · SEP: $299,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2024-01-24Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2024-10-16Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2024-10-16NPDES Closed
• 2024-10-16Enforcement Action Closed
• 2024-10-16Final Order Issued