Seattle dismissed our environmental challenge. We’re appealing — on behalf of Southern Resident Killer Whales.
Photo by Candice Emmons taken under NOAA Federal Permit No. 16163.
The City Approved a Harmful Plan.
Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) failed to fully evaluate the environmental consequences of increased development, especially the removal of mature trees. Trees reduce and filter polluted runoff that affects human health, salmon, and the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Instead of correcting these oversights, the city dismissed public concerns — including ours.
We Filed a Legal Appeal to Protect Healthy Habitats & Homes.
Feb 13th 2025, we filed a citywide appeal of the Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), asking Seattle to study how increased tree loss and stormwater runoff would affect our ecosystem. Our appeal was grounded in science, public health, and NOAA’s SRKW Recovery Plan. We had legal standing, expert witnesses, and community support — but the city shut the door on due process.
The City Tried to Block Our Challenge.
On April 11, 2025, the Hearing Examiner dismissed our appeal, despite clear standing and urgent environmental concerns. This sets a dangerous precedent: that the public can be denied a fair hearing on major environmental decisions. We're challenging that dismissal to restore the public’s right to defend health, wildlife, and climate resilience in city planning.
To effectively address both housing affordability and climate equity, the City must ensure its 20-year growth plan is based on inclusive and scientifically sound environmental analyses.
The Orca Appeal is in the Washington State Court of Appeals (Case No. 882520) and the Growth Management Hearings Board. If granted, we’ll continue pushing the city to improve the Comp Plan EIS to reduce harm to endangered orcas, salmon, trees, and communities. Donations go toward legal costs. Any funds left over will support orca and tree protection nonprofits.
We’re Taking It to the Courts — and We Need Your Help.
Legal Fund
Your donation supports legal fees, expert witnesses, and the fight to restore our right to challenge harmful city planning. For tax deductible donations, select “Orca Nexus” from the drop-down menu at Orca Conservancy.
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Ask the City of Seattle to protect baby orcas, salmon, trees, and clean water as they densify. The public deserves a voice in environmental decisions.
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Show you care deeply about protecting orcas, salmon, trees, and clean water. Your signature sends a clear message: the public deserves a voice in environmental decisions that impact everyone.
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Court of Appeals Division I & the Growth Management Hearings Board
Why is Seattle Moving Forward with a Comprehensive Plan without an adequate Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
Seattle is quietly dismantling the State Environmental Act (SEPA) using this EIS to “rubber stamp” most development for the next 20 years. Removing environmental review for some of the most environmentally impactful construction and protections for Culturally Resources,ike Culturally Modified Trees.
Despite the significance of the addition of specific development regulations to the City’s proposed action, OPCD conducted no additional analyses of the impacts of the proposed zoning and building code proposals on the elements of the environment listed in the Scoping Report and DEIS. No supplemental EIS was prepared.
Everyone Loses without Environmental Review
Degraded water quality and stormwater pollution pose serious risks to fish and wildlife populations, including ESA-listed salmonids and the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.
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