Operating long-lived mines has allowed us to develop deep and mutually beneficial partnerships between our company and the communities in which we operate. Through the continued growth of our responsible mining operations, we play a critical role in the economic health and social development of our local communities.
Hecla is the largest private-sector employer and taxpayer in Juneau, Alaska, near our Greens Creek mine and in Wallace/Mullan, Idaho, near our Lucky Friday mine. We are also one of the largest employers and taxpayers at our other locations in Nevada, Quebec, and Durango, Mexico.
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2020 GOAL |
2020 RESULT |
2020 PERFORMANCE |
2021 FOCUS AREA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh the community advisory committees in each of our locations |
| Community Advisory Committee (CAG) was reestablished at Greens Creek Casa Berardi Mine Liaison | Reactivate CAG
Maintain Casa Berardi Mine Reactivate Montana project |
| Advance a collaboration agreement with the Abitibiwinni First Nation community in Quebec |
|
Hecla Quebec and the Council of the Abitibiwinni First Nation signed Cooperation Agreement | Continue to implement the Cooperation Agreement |
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Develop a mining machine mechanics program in collaboration with the James Bay Professional Training Center |
| 16 students enrolled in 2020 | Continue to build program and enroll more students |
| Achieve a Level A rating for the Indigenous and Community Relations Protocol of the TSM framework |
| Achieved goal | Maintain Level A rating |
| Restart the biomass heating project at Casa Berardi in collaboration with the local community and First Nations |
| Project was delayed due to COVID-19. Participating parties toured the installations at Casa Berardi and continued to conduct planning discussions | Begin the project in 2021 |
| Hold workshops to educate and address questions on sustenance fisheries and the impacts of global mercury that may impact the local environment |
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Due to COVID-19, we were not able to hold any workshops | We plan to continue this program once we are able to host workshops again |
We engage with stakeholders at all our sites during every stage of the mining life cycle to become a community partner and deepen our understanding of local concerns and issues. We communicate information through a variety of methods including community meetings, local and social media, and flyers, with all materials available in the local language with translation provided if necessary. We disclose the results of environmental, economic, and social impact assessments and partner with local stakeholders to mitigate any environmental and social impacts. We also work with local stakeholders to identify opportunities for the Hecla Charitable Foundation to provide support for community initiatives.
Visit our 2020 Sustainability Report to learn more about the protocols and committees we use to communicate with stakeholders about our operations and ESG performance.
Hecla collaborates with local Indigenous Peoples around our operations to ensure we share resources, facilitate employment opportunities, and operate responsibly.
At our Greens Creek mine, we established the Greens Creek Community Advisory Committee (CAG), a collaborative effort with our local stakeholders to ensure that input from the community is considered in the environmental and social aspects of the mine’s planning and operations. The group is comprised of seven or more representative members from stakeholder constituencies
including the Alaska Native community, municipal government, private sector, educational and academic institutions, local environmental community, and humanitarian/charitable organizations.
The Casa Berardi Mine Liaison Committee was created to facilitate communication with our local stakeholders and partners. The Committee seeks their input and participation in operational activities. The Committee is comprised of nine members from stakeholder groups including residents
of Abitibi-Ouest and Nord-du-Quebec, municipal officials, the First Nations/Aboriginal Community (Pikogan), social and environmental organizations, and representatives of educational and training organizations.
At Casa Berardi, we participate in the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, a globally recognized sustainability program that helps provide local stakeholders with essential information about how mining companies are managing key environmental and social areas.
