US Failed to Fully Assess Impacts of Bayer Idaho Phosphate Mine

The Bureau of Land Management didn’t adequately assess environmental harms when approving a plan by P4 Production LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, to develop a phosphate mine in Idaho, a federal judge ruled.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, and WildEarth Guardians sued the agency, alleging that it didn’t take a hard look at potential selenium pollution from the Caldwell Canyon Mine, nor did it consider the mine’s impacts on the near-threatened greater sage grouse.

Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the US District Court for the District of Idaho mostly agreed with the groups, determining that ...