Opinion ID: 326929
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Federal Common Law Nuisance.

Text: 130 We reject the federal common law of nuisance as a basis for relief. As formulated in Illinois v. City of Milwaukee, 406 U.S. 91, 92 S.Ct. 1385, 31 L.Ed.2d 712 (1972), and Texas v. Pankey, 441 F.2d 236 (10th Cir. 1971), federal nuisance law contemplates, at a minimum, interstate pollution of air or water. The United States, while invoking this doctrine, alleges only that Reserve's discharge significantly endangers the health of all those persons living in the vicinity of the defendant's taconite ore processing operations. The States of Michigan and Wisconsin do not complain of air pollution and Minnesota alleges that the discharge causes common law public nuisance but does not allege interstate effects. The pleadings indicate that Minnesota's claim rests on Reserve's violation of Minnesota laws by creating an alleged danger to the health of its citizens. We construe Minnesota's complaint as asserting a state nuisance law violation. 53 131 Additionally, in our review of the record, we find no evidence of any interstate health hazard, and no testimony from medical witnesses indicating any substantial concern over the health of any citizens exposed to Reserve's air discharge other then those residing in the Silver Bay, Minnesota, area. Although the district court opinion refers to a measurement of cummingtonite-grunerite fibers in snow samples from northern Wisconsin, 380 F.Supp. at 50, and the district court found evidence of these fibers in the air as far away as Wisconsin   , 54 380 F.Supp. at 50, the trial court limited to the Silver Bay area any showing of a significant burden of excess fibers. 380 F.Supp. at 48. 132