Judge James Dixon of the Thurston County Superior Court ruled that Washington State Parks Commissioners were arbitrary and capricious when they allowed the military to use our state parks for military training. He agreed with Bricklin and Neuman, attorneys for the appellants, that there was no better word than “creepy” that citizens would feel in parks with military around. He cited the RCWs under which the Parks Commission is allowed to operate and that Parks' decision was clearly erroneous and violated its purpose in this case; they violated provisions set forth in the SEPA Act.

The citizens are entitled to attorney fees.

This is a clear and decisive win. Urge State Parks Commissioners not to appeal!

Sustaining our forests in a changing climate

STOP continues to monitor and comment upon our government’s activities affecting the environmental and economic health of the Olympic Peninsula. The increasingly obvious and extremely damaging effects of climate change have led us to become involved in a growing movement to challenge the management of our forests by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Board of Natural Resources (BNR), and the Forest Practices Board (FPB).

A particularly egregious example of mismanagement by the DNR was its conclusion, in proceedings involving two timber sales in Jefferson County, that it was not required to consider climate change in deciding whether to approve clearcut logging projects. Because clear-cuts both affect climate change and are affected by climate change, STOP believes proving the DNR wrong on this issue is extremely important. Accordingly, STOP has joined with Center for Sustainable Economy (CSE, https://sustainable-economy.org) in filing a lawsuit to force the DNR to consider climate change before authorizing clear-cuts. A copy of our press release can be found here. Our Notice of Appeal can be read here.

To represent us in this lawsuit, STOP and CSE have retained the leading environmental law firm of Bricklin & Newman. This, of course, comes with a price tag for which we must ask for your help. Please send your tax-deductible contribution to Save the Olympic Peninsula, or write a check and mail it to STOP, PO Box 3133, Port Angeles, WA 98362. STOP is a Washington State 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation.

 Electronic Warfare Range Update

STOP has spent a lot of time and effort analyzing and commenting upon the many adverse impacts to our area of the Navy’s Northwest Electronic Warfare Range. STOP’s comments regarding the Navy’s draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the warfare range stressed the misleading information the Navy had relied upon to justify flying over the Olympic Peninsula to access its Growler training ranges in western Clallam County. While reconsidering that SEIS in its decision-making process, the Navy, recently/, did adjust its access routes, away from the Olympic Peninsula and to the center of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Although the Navy has claimed its decision to do so was not made as a part of its environmental deliberations, we think it is highly likely that our comments contributed to the Navy’s decision to make this welcome change and stop a good portion of its Growlers from overflying the Olympic Peninsula.