U.S. power plant faces February trial

SARNIA, Ontario (AP) - An Ontario court has ruled that the trial of a U.S. power plant charged with contaminating Canadian waters with mercury will go ahead in February.

A private citizen, Scott Edwards, accuses Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. of violating the 2005 Fisheries Act.

Edwards, a legal director for the Waterkeeper Alliance, alleges the DTE plant emits 2,000 pounds of mercury annually that adversely affects Canadian fish habitat.

A letter from the company argued it was not properly notified of Monday's proceedings, so a Canadian court couldn't set a trial date.

The coal-fired plant is located on the St. Clair River near St. Clair, Mich., about 45 miles northeast of Detroit. DTE has argued that the plant operates in compliance with Michigan law.