Members of the House Natural Resources Committee spent Monday touring Hecla Mining Company’s Greens Creek Mine, gaining a firsthand look at one of the world’s largest and lowest-cost primary silver operations.
Located in Southeast Alaska, Greens Creek is a cornerstone of domestic mineral production and a critical contributor to both the state’s economy and the nation’s resource security. The site produced 8.5 million ounces of silver in 2024 at an all-in sustaining cost of $5.65 per ounce, along with 55,275 ounces of gold. Forecasts for 2025 project silver output between 8.1 and 8.8 million ounces, supported by proven and probable reserves of 105.2 million ounces of silver, 880,000 ounces of gold, 250,600 tons of lead, and 658,700 tons of zinc. Current reserves provide an estimated 14 years of mine life.
The delegation toured the underground mine, mill, and surface facilities, observing technology and safety protocols that support production efficiency and worker protection. An aerial overview of the Tongass National Forest followed, providing additional context for how the mine operates within the broader Southeast Alaska landscape.
“One of the things we have tried to highlight is how Alaskans care for the environment while we develop our resources responsibly. We have certainly had an opportunity to see that in Juneau at Green’s Creek Mine,” Congressman Begich said during a press availability in Anchorage on Wednesday.
Greens Creek remains Hecla’s primary cash-generating asset, as well as a steady supplier of minerals vital to U.S. manufacturing and renewable energy supply chains. The visit highlighted the mine’s role in balancing economic development, job creation, and environmental stewardship in a region where natural resources and conservation interests converge.
“Alaska’s mineral wealth is indispensable — not just for our state’s economy, but for America’s energy security,” Begich said. Greens Creek Mine exemplifies how our nation can responsibly tap into critical mineral reserves to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries and support domestic supply while also fueling innovations. I couldn’t be more grateful to have 10 members of the House Natural Resources Committee in our great state to witness firsthand Alaska’s incredible resource potential.”
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources did not require Greens Creek to submit core samples yet issued a permit. The native corporations need to get Earth Justice to file a lawsuit against the ADNR demanding the permit be rescinded.