Great Lakes Article:

Environmentalists to sue Coast Guard over live-fire exercises
Wheeler News Service
Published in the River Falls Journal December 14, 2006

Environmentalists say they’ll sue the U.S. Coast Guard over the weapons training exercises it held on the Great Lakes before it halted the practice to get public input.

The Citizens for Environmental Action in Duluth said the Coast Guard illegally held 24 live-fire sessions earlier this year.

That was before local residents and members of Congress raised a fuss.

The Coast Guard then agreed to hold public hearings before deciding whether or not to keep the exercises going.

The citizens’ group said the Coast Guard violated the federal Clean Water Act, by not getting a permit before leaving weapon shells in the lakes. The group has filed the required 60 day notice of a possible lawsuit.

The Coast Guard is not commenting on its past exercises. It plans to decide early next year whether to continue them.

The Coast Guard says the training is needed to fight terrorism.

The shootings would be conducted at 34 spots on the Great Lakes, including five on Lake Michigan along the Wisconsin shoreline and others on Lake Superior.