Noranda Ordered To Clean Up Mine

A federal judge ruled Friday that operators of a proposed gold mine near Yellowstone National Park are violating the federal Clean Water Act by allowing acid drainage from old mines on the site.

U.S. District Judge Jack Shanstrom also ruled that the Canadian mining giant Noranda Inc., is among those responsible for the pollution, rejecting Noranda’s contention that tiers of corporate subsidiaries shield it from liability.

The decision orders the mine operators to get discharge permits for seepage from historic old mines at the site and begin cleaning up the pollution.

The ruling came in a lawsuit by environmental groups.