A Chinese mining company is denying that its toxic waste spill, one of this year’s worst environmental disasters, had a “significant impact” on the environment or local communities. A new lawsuit filed on behalf of residents alleges the company has gone to extensive lengths to prevent them from reporting their experiences and getting help. China Nonferrous Mining is a Chinese state-owned mining company and one of the flagship firms operating globally as part of China’s sweeping Belt and Road Initiative, a trillion-dollar program investing in mines, ports, pipelines and other energy and infrastructure projects in mostly poor countries. On Feb. 18, Sino-Metals’ tailings dam spilled millions of gallons of toxic mining waste into local communities and rivers. Tailings dams store extremely toxic and acidic waste, including heavy metals that can damage health in a variety of ways.