[JURIST] In Tuesday's environmental law news, prosecutors in Indonesia announced they have decided to go ahead with charges against 6 executives of the Newmont Mining Corporation for allegedly contamininating the Buyat Bay. The prosecutors are awaiting a final dossier from local police, and hope to officially file the charges in a few weeks. Five of the officials had already been jailed for a number of weeks earlier this year while prosecutors decided whether to charge them. A major issue is the contamination itself- two earlier studies have not shown any contamination from the mine in the bay's water, while a recent government study shows mercury and arsenic in the bay's sediment. The mine itself was closed in August due to depleted resources. The accusations are from when it was in operation. Reuters has more.

In other news, Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has partially lifted a ban on the import of Canadian beef. The ban was enacted in May 2003 following a case of mad cow disease in Canada. Hong Kong will begin by allowing only boneless beef from cattle under 30 months old, and will make further allowances as necessary. The press release is here.