Environment | Law

Colville Tribes welcome denial of Superfund case

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The Colville Confederated Tribes of Washington will continue efforts to hold a Canadian company liable for pollution on the Columbia River.

Two tribal members sued Teck Cominco Ltd. of British Columbia under the federal Superfund law. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the company could be held liable for polluting the river.

Teck Cominco asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case but the justices on Monday declined the petition. Virgil Seymour of the tribal business council said tribal leaders were pleased with the move and "will do everything we can to force Teck Cominco to accept its responsibilities under U.S. law."

The Environmental Protection Agency has found high levels of dangerous chemicals in the Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt on the reservation.

Get the Story:
U.S. high court declines to review Can. company pollution ruling (AP 1/7)

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

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