Suquamish Tribe sues to stop Navy from building $715M wharf

Tuesday, August 28, 2012  

The Suquamish Tribe of Washington is suing the U.S. Navy and other federal agencies to stop the construction of a $715 million explosives handling wharf.

The tribe say the wharf will violate its rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott. Construction on the 6.3-acre facility in the Hood Canal is due to start this fall.

"The construction of the 6.3-acre overwater wharf is a 'taking' under federal law, will violate the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, the United States Constitution, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act," Chairman Leonard Forsman said in a statement to The Kitsap Sun.

The Navy reached mitigation agreements with other tribes whose ancestors signed the treaty. Up to $6.6 million will be shared by the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe while the Skokomish Tribe will get up to $2.2 million.

The Suquamish say they should have the same standing under the treaty as the other tribes.

Get the Story:
Suquamish Tribe files suit over Navy's new wharf at Bangor (The Kitsap Sun 8/28)