Lower Court Ruling UpheldThe Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that the state Division of Environmental Protection improperly eased water quality regulations for a Newmont Mining Corp. gold mine near Carlin.
The high court backed a 2004 decision by Carson City District Court Judge Bill Maddox that voided a 2002 state permit and called for more stringent water discharge standards at Newmont's Gold Quarry mine that had been required under a 1994 permit for the mine.
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal of the tougher discharge standards that had been filed by the state Environmental Commission, the state Division of Environmental Protection and Newmont.
Also rejected was a separate appeal by Great Basin Mine Watch of Maddox' finding that Newmont was in "substantial compliance" with the 1994 permit.
That compliance was required in order to get a renewal.