Forest Service Says No Liability to Tribe for Gold Mine Releases

The harms alleged by Midas Gold Inc. and related companies in a lawsuit seeking to hold the government partly responsible for pollution discharges onto an American Indian reservation are too remote and uncertain to establish standing, according to the government’s motion to dismiss filed in an Idaho federal court.

Even if the companies are to have alleged the kind of particular and concrete injury needed to sue, the U.S. isn’t responsible for that harm, the government tells the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.

Midas Gold, Idaho Gold Resources Co. LLC, and Stibnite Gold Co. filed their lawsuit ...