NESPELEM, Wash. – In a landmark decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the rights of tribes to sue for damages from pollution.
The victory allows tribes to seek compensation for environmental harm and cultural losses, said the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in a release.
The Colville Tribes said the Canadian mining company Teck Resources used the Columbia River to dispose of toxic waste for nearly a century.
The Colville Tribes, supported by the State of Washington, sued to force Teck to clean the river and compensate for lost use.
The Ninth Circuit’s ruling reverses a previous dismissal of the Tribes’ claims and sends the case back for trial. The trial is expected to take place in 2026.
“Today’s ruling is a vindication of the rights of the Colville Tribes and of all tribes in the country,” Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman of the Colville Tribes said.
