What they say: “This plan is patently illegal,” the two governments said in a filing Saturday in federal court in Washington, first reported by The Washington Post.
- “During the three-year construction period, the Arch project will inevitably impede traffic between jurisdictions, produce pollution and stormwater runoff into the Potomac, interfere with emergency services, and pose numerous other challenges,” they assert.
- They further claim that the defendants – the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior – rushed the project without proper consultations.
- The city and state are asking a judge to issue injunctions to stop any site preparation or construction on the project.
Zoom out: The proposed 250-foot arch would be one of the largest such monuments in the world, sparking concerns that it could interfere with other national symbols, block views and even make it difficult for pilots to land at nearby airports. (The FAA concluded otherwise.)
- The Park Service’s August report said construction of the arch would have adverse effects on nearby monuments and landmarks.
The other side: The administration argued it would be a major tourist attraction – but also vital to national security, serving as a base for snipers and drones.
- “The Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle will be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but in the entire world,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement.
What’s next: A federal judge held a hearing Friday on a separate challenge to the arch and indicated she could block construction at least temporarily.
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