WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for finalizing a waste-water and tailings disposal permit that will allow the Greens Creek Mine in Southeast Alaska to continue to operate for the next decade.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski touring the Greens Creek Mine in October with (from left) general manager Scott Hartman, Hecla CEO Phil Baker, and Mike Satre of Greens Creek.

“Approval of this permit is good news for Southeast’s economy and provides greater certainty for the 410 employees who depend on paychecks from Greens Creek Mine to support their families,” Murkowski said.

The Corps of Engineers on Tuesday issued a Section 404 permit under the Clean Water Act to Hecla Mining Company allowing the company to expand its silver mining operations on Admiralty Island.

Murkowski toured the mine site, which is located within the Admiralty Island National Monument, in October.

“When I visited the mine this past fall I saw first-hand the need for expanding the tailings space to allow the mine to grow its operations,” Murkowski said. “I also had a chance to ride the crew boat back to Juneau with the miners and hear directly from them about the opportunities the mine has provided the local workforce. I look forward to the continued economic benefits that Greens Creek Mine will provide the region.”

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