Mexican environmental prosecutors sue copper mine responsible for acid spill into 2 rivers

In this Aug. 12, 2014 photo, the contaminated Sonora river makes its way through the hills near the town of Mazocahui, in the northern state of Sonora, Mexico. Eighty-eight schools in Sonora state did not open Monday along with the rest of the country because of the danger of water contaminated by the spill of 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of acids from a copper mine into this and another river in the region. (AP Photo/El Imparcial, Julian Ortega) (The Associated Press)

In this Aug. 14, 2014 photo, the contaminated Sonora river makes its way near the town of Ures, in the northern state of Sonora, Mexico. Eighty-eight schools in Sonora state did not open Monday along with the rest of the country because of the danger of water contaminated by the spill of 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of acids from a copper mine into this and another river in the region. (AP Photo/El Imparcial, Julian Ortega) (The Associated Press)

Environmental authorities in Mexico have filed a lawsuit against a copper mine that spilled 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of acids into two rivers that supply water to tens of thousands of people.

The Attorney General for Environmental Protection says in a statement that it filed a lawsuit Monday against the Buena Vista del Cobre mining company, which runs the Grupo Mexico-owned mine in the northern state of Sonora.

The office says it has also ordered an inspection of all Buena Vista del Cobre's properties to verify the company is complying with environmental laws.

Authorities say the spill near the U.S. border was caused by defects in newly constructed leaching ponds, which hold the overflow of acids used to separate metal from crushed rock.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexican-environmental-prosecutors-sue-copper-mine-responsible-for-acid-spill-into-2-rivers