Tacoma — The U.S. Navy’s controversial use of Washington’s state parks for training exercises is the subject of a lawsuit filed Monday in Thurston County.
The Whidbey Environmental Action Committee (WEAN) is suing the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in order to overturn a Jan. 28 decision that approved the Navy’s proposal to use up to 28 state parks for special operations training.
WEAN said the parks commission violated the State Environmental Policy Act by “failing to take a searching, realistic look at the proposal’s adverse environmental impacts,” according to the complaint.
A spokesperson for the parks department declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying it would respond to allegations through the judicial process.