Environmental groups in Tacoma say they're planning a swift appeal against the decision from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency approving a permit for the liquefied natural gas facility that's being built in the city's tideflats.
The permit is the last hurdle for the controversial project that many organizations have been fighting for years. At the heart of the conflict are clashing views on whether the facility would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Sierra Club and Physicians for Social Responsibility convened a press conference to announce their opposition. Barb Church, with the Tacoma Social Justice group The Conversation, says they stand with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and will fight the LNG plant to the end.
“The Puyallup land claims settlement … mandates meaningful consultation with the tribe on any substantial action,” Church said. “According to the Puyallup Tribe, this didn’t happen.”
We stand with the @Puyallup_Tribe in opposition to the @pscleanair decision to approve the Tacoma LNG construction permit. We will share more information on next steps as we review the final permit. https://t.co/xfaEU3OFGo
— CHB (@chb_tacoma) December 11, 2019
Puget Sound Energy insists they did consult the tribe. But the Puyallup says the project has changed. The groups say they'll release the details of their appeal soon, and that they've retained the environmental law firm EarthJustice to represent them.
