NYTimes Thursday, January 3, 2002 Going Backwards Mining Company Gets Protection in Legislation Pushed by Daschle by Robert Pear WASHINGTON — A mining company in South Dakota has tapped a rich vein of influence on Capitol Hill, turning to the Senate Democratic leader to obtain valuable help for a project in his state. With little debate, lawmakers agreed to relieve the company, Homestake Mining, of any legal liability that it might have for damage done to the environment in digging gold from the Black Hills over the last 125 years. The company, which has excellent political connections and high- powered...