Trump mining pollution rule change challenged

Environmental groups challenged the Trump administration in federal court Wednesday over its rejection of an Obamaera proposal that would have required mining companies to prove they have enough money to clean up their pollution. The Idaho Conservation League, Earthworks, Sierra Club and other groups filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. asking it to review last year’s move to drop the rule. An attorney for the environmental groups said the reversal under Trump leaves taxpayers responsible into the future for pollution that fouls waterways and endangers public health. The mining industry responded with a pledge to intervene in the case on behalf of the administration. The proposal applied to “hard-rock” mines that extract gold, iron, lead and other minerals, but not coal.