Hecla’s Yukon unit fined $100,000 for chemical risks

Hecla Mining‘s (NYSE:HL) Yukon-based subsidiary has been hit with a $100,000 fine for overlooking certain environmental risks at its large silver mine situated 350 km north of Whitehorse, according to reports by CBC News.

The unit, Alexco Keno Hill Mining, pled guilty to failing to store hazardous waste properly and meet certain water quality standards on Wednesday. Alexco operates the Keno Hill mine, which Hecla acquired in 2022 and is expected to produce 2.7-3 million oz. of silver this year.

Commenting on the court ruling, Yukon Territorial Court deputy judge Michael Block said the fine was “substantial”.

In fact, such an amount is considered “unusual” by Crown lawyer Sarah Bailey, who said it’s normally the smaller placer mining operations in the territory that are taken to court over environmental issues.

The only other significant fine was given last September to Victoria Gold (TSX: VGCX) for violating some of the licensing conditions for its Eagle gold mine near Mayo. The total fine amount was $95,000.

Inspection 

Hecla’s even larger fine stems from an investigation into potential infractions of Yukon’s quartz mining and water regulations initiated by the government last summer.

Inspection by natural resource officers eventually pointed to an improper storage by the company of chemicals like copper sulphate and sulphuric acid, as well as a failure in its water treatment plant, CBC said.

These violations at Keno Hill were not a one-off for the Idaho-based silver miner. In June 2023, Hecla was fined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for similar infractions at Greens Creek in Alaska, the largest silver mine in the country. It was slapped with a US$143,124 fine as a result.

The Yukon fine follows the sudden departure of Hecla CEO Phillips Baker last week. The company told The Northern Miner by phone that Baker is in good health but he’s retiring. Chair Catherine Boggs is interim CEO and president until America’s largest silver miner finds a replacement.