Suquamish Tribe intends to sue King County after 2019 Tribal Canoe Journey marred by wastewater spill – By Lynda V. Mapes (Seattle Times) / July 23 2020
Sewage spills in Puget Sound over the past two years, totaling more than 6 million gallons, have driven the Suquamish Tribe to threaten a lawsuit against King County for the violation of clean-water laws.
In a letter to King County officials Tuesday, lawyers representing the tribe stated the tribe’s intent to sue the county within 60 days for violation of the Clean Water Act because of sewage spills from its West Point Treatment Plant in 2018 and 2019 — in addition to other violations of county permits reported by King County to its regulator, the state Department of Ecology.
The biggest spill noted by the tribe came on July 19 last year just as the Suquamish Tribe was welcoming 40 canoe paddlers and hundreds of guests to its reservation for the annual Tribal Canoe Journey. An order from the health department warning to have no contact with the water put the tribe scrambling for clean shirts and washing stations for guests as they arrived on their shores. Popular beaches at Discovery Park also were closed.
It was a blow that still stings for the people from the Place of Clear Saltwater, who pride themselves on hospitality.
Continue to article: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/suquamish-tribe-intends-to-sue-king-county-after-2019-tribal-canoe-journey-marred-by-wastewater-spill/
