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Group Sues Yacolt Mining Company Over Water Pollution

An environmental group is suing a mining company in Clark County for water pollution. Local resident David Rogers shows a photo of his bathtub filled with well water.
An environmental group is suing a mining company in Clark County for water pollution. Local resident David Rogers shows a photo of his bathtub filled with well water.

A Clark County environmental group has filed a lawsuit against a Yacolt mining operation, claiming years of pollution and violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Friends of the East Fork Lewis River claims that the Yacolt Mountain Quarry and its owners have discharged dirt, silt and other pollutants into tributaries of the East Fork. The suit names quarry operator J.L. Storedahl & Sons, Inc., company leaders and landowner Brent Rotschy as defendants.

The quarry operation has long been a source of frustration among residents in the area. Friends of the East Fork President Richard Dyrland said the plaintiffs feel legal action is the only way to resolve the situation after years of problems. Opponents have contacted Storedahl directly in the past, he said, plus county, state and federal officials.

"We felt that things were not getting corrected as they should be, and this has been an ongoing thing," Dyrland said. "If we're going to get anything changed we had to take this step."

A representative of Kelso-based Storedahl was not immediately available to comment Tuesday.

You can continue reading this story at The Columbian.

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Eric Florip