8-3-2018
PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The city of Port Angeles is suing the federal government claiming it didn’t meet its obligations to protect the city’s water right and water supply as it plans to transfer water treatment facilities to the city.
The facilities were built as part of a $325 million project that removed two massive dams on the Elwha River, but the city, which has a water right there, says changes to the river since the removal affected water quality and availability.
The Peninsula Daily News reports the lawsuit, filed against the Interior Department and Secretary, claims taking over the facilities in their current state would dramatically increase the costs of providing industrial water and a water backup.
The National Park Service previously denied the city’s request for mitigation funding.