United States v. Northshore Mining Co.

GRUENDER, Circuit Judge.

Northshore Mining Company, the United States of America, and the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency each appeal from the district court’s 1 order holding that those portions of a 1975 injunction regulating air emissions from Northshore’s taconite pellet operation at Silver Bay, Minnesota, were moot. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

A. 1972-1975: Federal Litigation and Injunction

In February 1972, the United States filed suit against the Reserve Mining Company (“Reserve”), seeking injunctive relief limiting the air and…