Canada-US Stand-off Over Polluted Water From Mines

A Canadian company seeking U.S. approval for three open-pit gold mines in central Idaho is suing the U.S. government contending U.S. officials are allowing water pollution at the already heavily mined site in violation of environmental laws. British Columbia-based Midas Gold filed the lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court against the U.S. Forest Service under the Clean Water Act's citizen enforcement provision. The area contains important salmon habitat that the company says it will restore if allowed to mine. Midas Gold, which has yet to do any mining in the area but has claims, is itself being sued by the Nez Perce Tribe over the same pollution caused by past mining companies.