New Environmental Lawsuit Against the Navy - Explosive Ordnance Training Under Attack

The U.S. Navy was just sued in federal court in Washington for alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, Marine Mammals Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedures Act.  The complaint is available here.

Plaintiffs, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY and the WILD FISH CONSERVANCY allege: 

 

 

Plaintiffs bring this action for declaratory and injunctive relief to require the Navy to comply with NEPA, and to enjoin the Navy from continuing to engage in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (“EOD”) training operations in Puget Sound until it comes into compliance with NEPA by producing adequate environmental reviews and/or institutes mitigation measures to sufficiently reduce or eliminate the environmental impacts of its EOD training operations. NEPA requires a federal agency to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for all “major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment,” prior to undertaking such actions. 42 U.S.C. § 4332(C).

The lawsuit pends in the Western District of Washington.