Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Environment
Fort Belknap Tribes sue over abandoned gold mines


The tribes on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday over two abandoned gold mines that have caused water pollution.

The Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes say cleanup of the site is not going well. They sued the state, the Bureau of Land Management and the current owner of the mines, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act.

The abandoned Zortman and Landusky gold mines are located on sacred land that was taken from the tribes. The mine operators destroyed the Little Rocky Mountains and contaminated the site with cyanide.

Get the Story:
Fort Belknap Indian tribe sues over gold mine pollution (AP 1/30)

Relevant BLM Documents:
Record of Decision | Final Environmental Impact Statement

Relevant Links:
Fort Belknap Community Council - http://tlc.wtp.net/fort.htm

Related Stories:
Mont. tribes fight to clean up old gold mines (11/18)
Mont. tribes sue over cleanup of mines near reservation (10/29)
Mont. mine cleanup bill killed for losing teeth (03/28)
Mont. mine cleanup bill clears one hurdle (3/27)
Mont. tribal members want mines cleaned up (03/19)
Mont. tribes offer mine tours (05/30)
Tribes plan to challenge mine plan (5/6)
Mont. tribes want mine cleanup (5/3)
Cleanup of mine near reservation costly (1/9)
Fort Belknap tribes push mine cleanup (10/1)
Mont. tribes lose mining auction (9/5)