Judge Allows continued Use of Fire Retardant Despite Pollution of Western Streams

A judge ruled that chemical retardant dropped by the US Forest Service while fighting wildfires violates federal law by polluting streams in western states.
The judge allowed the continued use of the retardant to battle wildfires despite the legal violation.
Environmental groups sued the government after hundreds of retardant drops into waterways over the past decade, arguing the practice went against the Clean Water Act.
Officials argue the retardant is at times necessary to slow dangerous wildfires that have grown larger and more destructive.
Halting retardant use could lead to greater environmental damage from uncontrolled wildfires, the judge concluded.