Idaho Phosphate Mine Approval Draws Lawsuit Against Land Agency

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management failed to properly consider environmental impacts when it approved a plan by P4 Production LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, to develop a phosphate mine in Idaho, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in a federal court in the state.

The agency didn’t take a hard look at potential selenium pollution from the Caldwell Canyon Mine in Caribou County, Idaho, environmental groups tell the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. Selenium is toxic in high concentrations, and it has killed hundreds of livestock in southeast Idaho, the lawsuit says.

The Center ...