The towering tailings piles of the BHP Robinson copper and gold mine have long been part of the landscape of Ely and Ruth, near the eastern edge of Nevada, 60 miles from Great Basin National Park. Residents sought legal action against BHP Billiton after discovering that their groundwater was contaminated with high levels of nitrate. The most likely sources for the nitrate contamination were the city of Ruth's sewage disposal ponds, which the mining company had built, or the mine's leaking tailing heaps since the heap water had extremely high nitrate readings.

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection had conducted tests at residential wells, and knew they contained high levels of nitrate that posed a significant health threat. Yet NDEP did not inform residents. Locals discovered what was making them ill after hiring a private lab to test their water. The mining company recently settled the lawsuit with the residents.

Ruth Action Center

Are you a Ruth resident? Learn from your neighbors how you can help the City of Ruth become a healthier place. Contact us to find out how you can become involved.