Montana: miner violates 'bad actor' law with past pollution

By MATTHEW BROWN

Associated Press

BILLINGS — Montana officials singled out a mining company president as an industry “bad actor” Tuesday, and said the company could have to reimburse taxpayers more than $35 million for past pollution cleanups if it wants to pursue two new mines in the state.

Hecla Mining Inc. and its president Phillips Baker Jr., who’s also chairman of the National Mining Association, were deemed in violation of a law that targets individuals and companies that abandon polluted sites. The alleged violations were first reported by The Associated Press.

A Hecla exe...