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Lawsuit filed over proposed gravel mine expansion
9/9 Seattle PI story on lawsuit filed against gravel mining on Maury Island
Challenge could test protections for orcas
By LISA STIFFLER
P-I REPORTER
September 9, 2008
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the proposed expansion of a sand and gravel mine on Maury Island could harm orcas, chinook salmon, humpback whales and other endangered animals.
The case is believed to be the first calling for better orca protections since the animals joined the ranks of federally endangered species three years ago.
The suit also comes as efforts are mounting to devise a multibillion-dollar strategy for restoring Puget Sound to better health by 2020....
..."This site on Maury Island is a very important part of Puget Sound habitat, and the project itself is a major example of exactly the kind of thing that needs to stop if we're going to restore the health of Puget Sound," said Kathy Fletcher, executive director of People for Puget Sound.
"The problem is they're trying to put an industrial project into an area that is essentially an unspoiled part of Puget Sound."
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