The federal court in Seattle has given the Firm’s client, Sound Transit, a resounding victory in a challenge to the environmental impact statement for its East Link project. The project, which will extend the Seattle-area light rail to the eastern suburbs and link them with downtown Seattle, was the subject of a lengthy environmental review process that included preparation of a supplemental EIS. The federal court upheld the EIS in the face of challenges to whether the document adequately examined alternatives, considered impacts on wetlands and on protected parklands and impermissibly limited the purpose of the project to providing light rail service. Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell assisted in preparing the EIS and in defending that document in court.