Page 15 - Greg Bolin News Today

The judge agreed with U.S. Forest Service officials who said dropping retardant into areas with waterways was sometimes necessary to protect lives and property.

A federal judge ruled Friday that the U.S. government can continue using retardant to fight wildfires, despite his finding that it does pollute streams in violation of federal law. Banning retardant could cause greater environmental damage from wildland fires, said U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen in court in Missoula, Montana.

The U.S. has ruled to keep the use of chemical retardant during wildfires, despite findings of pollution streams and federal violations.

The U.S. has ruled to keep the use of chemical retardant during wildfires, despite findings of pollution streams and federal violations.

The U.S. has ruled to keep the use of chemical retardant during wildfires, despite findings of pollution streams and federal violations.

A judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can keep using chemical retardant to fight wildfires, despite finding that the practice pollutes streams in western states in violation of federal law.

A judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can keep using chemical retardant to fight wildfires, despite finding that the practice pollutes streams in western states in violation of

A judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can keep using chemical retardant to fight fires, despite finding that the practice pollutes streams.

Halting the use of the red slurry material could have resulted in greater environmental damage from wildfires, said U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen.

The U.S. Forest Service is violating the federal Clean Water Act when it discharges fire retardant into creeks, rivers and lakes while battling wildfires in 10 Western states, including California.