Coast Seafoods Delays Complying with Clean Water Act – Asks Court to Re-review Its Decision

Coast Seafoods has petitioned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for an en banc review (review of the appellate decision by the Ninth Circuit by 11 judges). The Ninth Circuit Court has the discretion to grant the petition or not, but there must be a basis for the court’s review.

In an interview by the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, OFCO President Connie Gallant said, “We are not trying to close the business and only want the company to get a permit and filter any pollutants. The goal has not changed. That is the way to keep the bay cleaner. It’s the only fair thing for residents of the community. Kids swim in the bay and around the marina, and there’s a lot of activity from shrimpers. It affects our local economy if the waters are full of brown crud coming out of their pipes.”

The Ninth Circuit will respond to the petition in the next several weeks, either to grant it or not. See the original decision by the Ninth Circuit and more information here.