Teck Cominco & Lake Roosevelt
Much of the contaminants dumped by Teck Cominco Metals have settled around the bed and banks of Lake Roosevelt in northern Washington. The pollution poses a threat to tribal members who use the reservoir to fish and for cultural and spiritual reasons, as well as the thousands of people who recreate in the area.
Case Overview
Teck Cominco Metals operates a smelter ten miles north of the U.S.-Canada border.
This smelter has contaminated Lake Roosevelt, in Washington State, and parts of the Upper Columbia River with toxic heavy metals. Earthjustice filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief in support of the Colville Tribe to enforce an order issued to Teck Cominco to study and assess the pollution.
Case Updates
Case page created on June 1, 2006.