COEUR d'ALENE - Hecla Mining Co. on Wednesday said it plans to develop a bypass to avoid a rock burst area where seven miners were injured last week at the Lucky Friday silver mine in Mullan.

Hecla, based in Coeur d'Alene, also said production at Lucky Friday is expected to resume by the end of February when the company predicts the 750-foot bypass will be completed.

Hecla closed the mine after the most recent accident occurred on Dec. 14, citing safety reasons. The company also wanted to investigate the accident, and to evaluate alternative plans.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration issued an order closing Lucky Friday, which is one of the nation's deepest underground mines.

Amy Louviere, a spokeswoman for MSHA, told The Press on Wednesday, "This is a plan (developing the bypass) that has been proposed by the mine operator. It will be reviewed by MSHA before any work begins."

Meanwhile, Hecla expects to increase silver production to more than 9.5 million ounces next year, even with the loss of two months of production at the Lucky Friday mine while the bypass is completed.

Hecla's silver production for this year remains within previous estimates at more than 9 million ounces.

Hecla said the bypass will be developed to "ensure safe and efficient operations for its personnel."

Hecla will not repair the area where the rock burst occurred, the company said.

The bypass will be a "significant" distance from where the rock burst occurred and is in a previously mined area, "reducing the risk of future rock bursts."

Phil Baker, Hecla's president and chief executive officer, said in a press release that all the miners injured in the rock burst from a week ago have been released from the hospital and are recovering.

"While 2011 has been a difficult year for Hecla and the Lucky Friday, the previous 25 years at the Luck Friday have been characterized by an extraordinary safety record," Baker said.

He added, "Looking forward, our goal, which we will relentlessly pursue, is to re-establish the same safety and operating performance decades into the future."

Hecla expects that a majority of Lucky Friday employees will stay at the mine to work on the bypass or other Lucky Friday projects.

Any remaining qualified employees will be given the opportunity to work at Hecla's other properties.

Hecla is working with MSHA to finalize the investigation of last week's rock burst and lift the closure order so development of the bypass can start, and construction can resume on the mine's No. 4 shaft, and work can be done on maintenance projects.

The rock burst occurred 5,900 feet below the surface. A month earlier, Hecla reported a seismic event in approximately the same location.

Hecla said last week it would need more information to determine what caused the rock burst, though it was likely the result of seismic activity.

Baker said the rock burst was not triggered by mine blasting, since blasting had not taken place within the previous 24 hours.

The most serious injuries among the seven miners were lacerations, a broken arm and a broken pelvis.

There were 25 Hecla employees and 18 contractor employees underground in the mine at the time of the rock burst.

Earlier this year, there were two fatal accidents at the Lucky Friday.

In November, 26-year-old miner Brandon L. Gray was buried in rubble as he worked to dislodge jammed rock.

In April, miner Larry "Pete" Marek, 53, was crushed under rock when the roof collapsed in his work area.

MSHA recently announced it found company safety failures that led to Marek's death.

Hecla said last week that the three accidents this year are unrelated.

Lucky Friday is being deepened to nearly 9,000 feet for access to deeper ore, a project that is projected to be completed by 2014.