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In a riveting legal saga, a Washington federal judge has rebuffed a bid by a Teck Resources Ltd. unit for summary judgment in the face of natural resource damages claims brought forth by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the state of Washington. The allegations center on decades of pollution in the Upper Columbia River emanating from a smelter in Trail, British Columbia, setting the stage for a potential courtroom showdown.

Judge Says Tribes Can Seek River Pollution Damages : Denial Sparks Legal Duel

Teck Resources argued vehemently for the dismissal of claims, contending that the tribes and the state failed to establish natural resource damages under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The company asserted that the wide-ranging estimated costs to restore parts of the river were too uncertain, ranging from a staggering $315 million up to $413 million.

However, Chief U.S. District Judge Stanley A. Bastian delivered a stunning blow to Teck's argument. On Wednesday, Judge Bastian refuted the company's claims, asserting that CERCLA does not mandate the processes Teck argued were necessary.

Litigation Tactics Unveiled

According to Judge Bastian's order, the tribes and state opted for a natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) through litigation experts rather than a public administrative process. The judge emphasized that the process Teck claimed they did not follow is not mandatory.

"The fact that Congress only required notice and comment on the final implementation plan under § 9611(i) indicates Congress likely made a considered decision to not require public comment at other stages of the NRD process," the judge declared.

Uncertainty Fails to Sway Judgment

Despite Teck's arguments regarding the uncertainty of natural resource damages calculations, Judge Bastian sided with the tribes and the state. He contended that Teck failed to demonstrate that uncertainty should lead to summary judgment in its favor, highlighting the inherent difficulty in predicting the cost of future projects and the common involvement of potential cost ranges in natural resource damages claims.

"Since questions of fact are present, a trial is needed to determine accurate damages," Judge Bastian asserted.

Decades-Long Legal Battle

The litigation between the tribes and Teck has spanned nearly two decades. It began in 2004 when the tribes filed a complaint alleging that the smelter had dumped millions of tons of toxic slag into the Columbia River for over six decades. Teck has since admitted to the dumping of smelter waste containing hazardous chemicals directly into the river between 1930 and 1995.

The legal tussle intensified in 2016 when a federal judge awarded the Confederated Tribes about $8.25 million for response costs related to the river's pollution. Last week, Judge Bastian ruled that the tribes cannot seek millions of dollars for cultural resource damages under CERCLA.

Judge Says Tribes Can Seek River Pollution Damages : What's Next?

As the legal drama unfolds, Teck finds itself on the brink of a trial that could have far-reaching consequences. Counsel for Teck declined to comment on pending litigation, while representatives for the tribes and the state of Washington were not immediately available for comment.