"For decades, Canadian smelter Teck Cominco used the Upper Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt as an industrial sewer, dumping millions of tons of heavy metals and slag into the water.

The company — now known as Teck Resources — has fought responsibility for the pollution and cleanup every inch of the way. Every sniffling excuse has been rebuffed in court with the equivalent of legal eye rolls. It happened again.

A federal judge dismissed the company's attempt to shift and divide liability among a bunch of unspecified other polluters. Don't blame us, the company's lawyers, Quibble and Delay, argued. It was those guys."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Columbia polluter headed toward day of reckoning (The Seattle Times 4/11)

Related Stories:
Colville Tribes win decision in Columbia River pollution case (4/9)