A Washington ranching family that has worked the same land since the 1950s is now fighting for the right to have their case heard by a jury rather than a panel of governor-appointed bureaucrats.
Wade and Teresa King, who operate King Ranch across Grant and Douglas counties in central Washington, face a $267,540 civil penalty from the Washington State Department of Ecology and estimated compliance costs of more than $3.7 million.
Ecology claims the Kings damaged alkali wetlands while performing stock-water maintenance on property they own and lease for cattle grazing. The Kings dispute both the wetlands designation and the agency’s authority to regulate the sites at issue. Pacific Legal Foundation filed a motion for summary judgment this week in Grant County Superior Court, with arguments set for May 21.
