Hecla to pay $600,000 penalty for water pollution violations

According to the EPA, Hecla’s tailings pond three was found seeping metals-laden water that discharged into Harris Creek. During construction of a tailings pond four, Hecla also failed to install adequate controls to ensure that storm water runoff was properly managed and soon turbid runoff destroyed a water intake at a downstream fish hatchery.
In both cases, the EPA charged that Hecla failed to properly report the event. In all, EPA inspections documented close to 500 combined (effluent limit, unpermitted, and reporting) violations.
"The last thing rivers like the South Fork Coeur d’Alene need are unpermitted discharges and permit violations," said Ed Kowalski, Director of Compliance and Enforcement at EPA’s Seattle office.
http://www.mining.com/hecla-to-pay-600000-penalty-for-water-pollution-violations/