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Statement of Chuck Findley, Acting Regional Administrator, on Agreement-in-Principle with Coeur D'Alene Mines

Release Date: 3/19/2001
Contact Information: Bill Dunbar
dunbar.bill@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-1203


March 19, 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 01-07

ON ITS LIABILITY FOR MINING CONTAMINATION AND CLEAN-UP IN THE SILVER VALLEY


“The kids and the environment of the Silver Valley deserve an end to the legal wrangling over mining pollution – and, after reaching agreement on Friday with the Coeur d’Alene Mines company (and its subsidiary, Callahan Mining), it looks like we’re half-way there.
“With a significant up-front cash payment and commitment to clean-up their properties, Coeur/Callahan has agreed to make a fair contribution toward the costs of cleaning up its share of mining contamination. And fair contributions from the companies are all we expect.
“While today’s settlement-in-principle with Coeur/Callahan doesn’t end all legal tussles over responsibility for clean-up of hazardous mining wastes, it’s a great step.
“We hope for similar reasonable efforts from the other two companies so that we can get out of court and into the field for cleanup.
“I’m sure we are joined by the people of the Silver Valley in tipping our hats to Coeur d Alene Mines.
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