Colville Superfund case to be considered in January

Monday, December 10, 2007  

The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled a January 4, 2008, conference to consider a Superfund case affecting the Colville Reservation in Washington.

The justices are debating whether to accept the case. A Canadian company is trying to avoid liability for allegedly polluting the reservation.

Two tribal members sued Teck Cominco for dumping millions of tons of waste from a mine in Canada into the Columbia River. The tribe depends on fish from the river for subsistence and culture.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the company can be held liable under the Superfund law. But the Bush administration says the case is moot because the Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its cleanup order against Teck Cominco.

Relevant Documents:
DOJ Brief | Other Briefs | Docket Sheet: No. 06-1188

9th Circuit Decision:
Pakootas v. Teck Cominco (July 3, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Colville Confederated Tribes - http://www.colvilletribes.com
Teck Cominco - http://www.teckcominco.com
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://www.narf.org/sct/index.html
SCOTUS Blog - http://www.scotusblog.com

Related Stories:
Bush brief opposes review of Colville pollution case (11/26)
Supreme Court seeks DOJ views on Colville case (7/18)
9th Circuit won't rehear Colville pollution lawsuit (11/8)
9th Circuit allows tribal suit against mine company (07/05)
Report backs tribe in Columbia River pollution claim (03/08)
Diplomats discuss tribal spat with Canadian company (12/01)
Judge won't dismiss tribe's pollution lawsuit (11/09)
Canadian company fights tribe's lawsuit (11/5)
Mining company not worried about tribal-state lawsuit (09/02)
State joins tribal lawsuit against mining company (9/1)
Company seeks to dismiss tribal Superfund lawsuit (8/27)
Colville Tribes sue Canadian company over pollution (07/22)