Navy Sued Over Detonations in Puget Sound

Two environmental groups have filed a lawsuit claiming that U.S. Navy explosives disposal is endangering marine life in Puget Sound in Washington state.

The plaintiffs are Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a Washington, D.C., group, and Wild Fish Conservancy, headquartered in Duvall, Wash., the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported. In court papers, they say that the Navy conducts three to five detonations a month, combining training in handling explosives with disposal of munitions.

The lawsuit names the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Fish and Wildlife as plaintiffs with the Navy.

Brian Gorman, a spokesman for the service, said that the agency has successfully negotiated with the Navy to reduce the size of the detonations and to change the timing.

The plaintiffs say that the explosions endanger fish, especially salmon, birds and marine mammals like orcas and sea lions.