Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaskan Conservation Counsel (.pdf)
(H/T Common Tragedies)
To set the scene, Mr. Olsen is defending Coeur Alaska, a mining corporation against charges that they are violating the Clean Water Act in front of the Supreme Court.
From the transcript:
MR. OLSON: And what’s being put in this settling area, this lake, is the sand, which is the same consistency of the bottom of the lake. It’s inert material. It does not changing the chemical composition. It is not hurting the water quality of the lake.If that isn’t a violation of the Clean Water Act then well, I bet there is some bullshit signing statement attached to the Clean Water Act that ensures that everything in some Alaskan lake has to die.
JUSTICE SOUTER: But it’s going to kill every living creature in the lake, right?
MR. OLSON: Putting sand or rocks -
JUSTICE SOUTER: Wait a minute. It is going to kill everything in the lake.
MR. OLSON: Yes, it is, Justice Souter.
(H/T Common Tragedies)
