SEATTLE — The state of Washington is cracking down on a controversial megachurch in Pierce County.
Neighbors in Milton have been fighting this project since 2019, saying it puts wetlands and wildlife at risk. Now they're hoping state regulators will help their cause.
Construction on this years-long, hotly-contested megachurch just got underway. The state found the builders are not following state environmental laws.
"I'm glad the state's coming in but I don't know what they'll be able to actually do. I mean, this is the very beginning of the project and nothing is being done correctly," said Milton resident Cheryl Reid-Simmons.
The area in the town of Milton is an important one for fish and wildlife. It includes two protected wetlands and a seasonal stream with Coho salmon that flows into Surprise Lake.
Last month, water quality inspectors cited the church twice for not following the laws aimed at keeping the species safe. The church is operating without a stormwater permit and without the appropriate fencing to keep dirty construction water out of streams and rivers.
"If there are repeated violations, that's when we move into enforcement and that really depends on the site," said Mugdha Flores, the communications manager with the Department of Ecology.
These are exactly the types of environmental issues nearby residents have been raising concerns about for four long years. They even took the issue to court trying to block construction of it, with no success.
"We have all kinds of wildlife in the lake," said Susan Castillo, who lives nearby.
Neighbors living along Surprise Lake said wildlife has already been hurt by the project and things only got worse a month ago when the church chopped down 100 trees.
"There were two owls over here that would call at night. You don't hear them anymore," said Reid-Simmons.
"So what will be the effect of runoff and any of the pollutants that might be happening due to all this due to the construction, due to the traffic this church is going to bring," said Castillo.
Residents said the City of Milton has been a big part of the problem. They said the city is giving the church a free pass over their concerns, including allowing the 92,000-square-foot church to be built in the middle of a single-family neighborhood with sensitive habitats all around.
KING 5 asked Milton officials about the new state citations. Planning Manager Angelie Stahlnecker said, "My understanding is there are a few minor corrections, and to be honest ... that's sort of normal."
State inspectors said if the violations aren't rectified, they can issue fines of $10,000 a day per violation. Neighbors said this validates their long-standing complaints and they hope it's the beginning of the church taking their concerns seriously.
"We try really hard to not live in a way that hurts our natural surroundings. So it's really sad that you can do everything. But then somebody just comes in and stomps all over it anyway," said Reid-Simmons.
KING 5 reached out to the Salvation Baptist Church which declined an interview but said in an email that their focus is on "ensuring compliance with the Department of Ecology."