LEGAL, REGULATORY AND MARKET RISKS  There are several ongoing legal disputes in which we are involved, including a putative class action lawsuit filed against us, and additional actions  may be filed against us. We may be subject to future claims, including those relating to environmental damage, safety conditions at our mines, the two  fatal accidents that occurred at the Lucky Friday mine in 2011, and other related matters. The outcomes of these pending and potential claims are  uncertain. We may not resolve these claims favorably. Depending on the outcome, these actions could have adverse financial effects or cause  reputational harm to us. If any of these disputes result in a substantial monetary judgment against us, are settled on terms in excess of our current  accruals, or otherwise impact our operations, our financial results or condition could be materially adversely affected. For a description of some of the  lawsuits in which we are involved, see  Note 7  of  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements . In the ordinary course of business, mining companies are required to seek governmental and lessor approvals and permits for continuation or  expansion of existing operations or for the commencement of new operations. For example, we estimate that our Greens Creek tailings impoundment  area has sufficient capacity to meet our needs at least through the end of 2015. In order to increase the tailings capacity at the mine, a permit is  required. Obtaining the necessary governmental permits is a complex, time-consuming and costly process. The duration and success of our efforts to  obtain permits are contingent upon many variables not within our control. Obtaining environmental permits, including the approval of reclamation  plans, may increase costs and cause delays or halt the continuation of mining operations depending on the nature of the activity to be permitted and  the interpretation of applicable requirements implemented by the permitting authority. Interested parties may seek to prevent issuance of permits and  intervene in the process or pursue extensive appeal rights. Past or ongoing violations of government mining laws could provide a basis to revoke  existing permits or to deny the issuance of additional permits. In addition, evolving reclamation or environmental concerns may threaten our ability to  renew existing permits or obtain new permits in connection with future development, expansions and operations. There can be no assurance that all  necessary approvals and permits will be obtained and, if obtained, that the costs involved will not exceed those that we previously estimated. It is  possible that the costs and delays associated with the compliance with such standards and regulations could become such that we would not proceed  with the development or operation. We are often required to post surety bonds or cash collateral to secure our reclamation obligations and we may be  unable to obtain the required surety bonds or may not have the resources to provide cash collateral.  Our business is subject to extensive U.S. and foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations governing development, production, labor  standards, health and safety, the environment and other matters. For example, in 2012 both of our operating mines received several citations, and the  Lucky Friday mine also received multiple orders, under the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as administered by MSHA. In addition, in November  2012, the Lucky Friday mine received a PPOV notice from MSHA. See  Recent accidents and other events at our Lucky Friday mine could have  additional adverse consequences to us . The notice indicated that because the Lucky Friday was in a non-producing status at the time, MSHA will  postpone action on the matter until further notice. Further, we have been and are currently involved in lawsuits or disputes in which we have been  accused of causing environmental damage, violating environmental laws, or violating environmental permits, and we may be subject to similar lawsuits  or disputes in the future. See risk titled  “Our environmental obligations may exceed the provisions we have made.” Exposure to these liabilities arises not only from our existing operations, but from operations that have been closed, sold to third parties, or  properties we had a leasehold, joint venture, or other interest in. With a history dating back to 1891, our exposure to environmental claims may be  greater because of the bankruptcy or dissolution of other mining companies which may have engaged in more significant activities of a mining site but  which are no longer available to make claims against or obtain judgments from.  We are required to reclaim properties and specific requirements vary among jurisdictions. In some cases, we may be required to provide financial  assurances as security for reclamation costs, which may exceed our estimates for such costs. Our historical operations and the historical operations of  entities and properties we have acquired have occasionally been alleged to have generated environmental contamination. We could also be held  liable for worker exposure to hazardous substances. There can be no assurances that we will at all times be in compliance with all environmental, health  and safety regulations or that steps to achieve compliance would not materially adversely affect our business. In addition to existing regulatory requirements, legislation and regulations may be adopted or permit limits reduced at any time that result in  additional exposure to liability, operating expense, capital expenditures or restrictions and delays in the mining, production or development of our  properties. Mining accidents and fatalities, whether or not at our mines or related to silver mining, may increase the likelihood of additional regulation  or changes in law. In addition, enforcement or regulatory tools and methods available to governmental regulators such as the U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency which have not been used or seldomly used against us, could in the future be used against us. Federal or state environmental or  mine safety regulatory agencies may order certain of our mines to be temporarily or permanently closed, which may have a material adverse effect on  our cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition. Legislative and regulatory measures to address climate change and green house gas emissions are in various phases of consideration. If adopted,  such measures could increase our cost of environmental compliance and also delay or otherwise negatively affect efforts to obtain permits and other  regulatory approvals with regard to existing and new facilities. Proposed measures could also result in increased cost of fuel and other consumables  used at our operations, including the diesel generation of electricity at our Greens Creek operation if we are unable to regularly access utility power.  Climate change legislation may also affect our smelter customers who burn fossil fuels, resulting in increased costs to us, and may affect the market for  the metals we produce with effects on prices that are not possible for us to predict. From time to time, the U.S. Congress considers proposed amendments to the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended, which governs mining  claims and related activities on federal lands. The extent of any future changes is not known and the potential impact on us as a result of U.S.  Congressional action is difficult to predict. Changes to the General Mining Law, if adopted, could adversely affect our ability to economically develop  mineral reserves on federal lands. Although we are not currently mining on federal land, we do explore and future mining could occur on federal land. The Clean Water Act requires permits for operations that discharge into waters of the United States. Such permitting has been a frequent subject of  litigation by environmental advocacy groups, which has resulted, and may in the future result, in declines in such permits or extensive delays in  10 [ HL:10-K ]  We are currently involved in ongoing legal disputes that may materially adversely affect us. We are required to obtain governmental and lessor approvals and permits in order to conduct mining operations. We face substantial governmental regulation and environmental risk.