Lake City man sues to stop annual Fourth of July fireworks display at Gasworks Park... just days before the event.

The city should conduct a thorough environmental review before letting thousands of people watch fireworks from the partially remediated toxic-waste site that is Gas Works Park, an environmental activist says.

A Lake City man has sued to stop Fourth of July events at the park at the north end of Lake Union until the state shows that gathering to watch fireworks there is safe for viewers, the park and surrounding wildlife. Benjamin Schroeter, who is not an attorney, filed the lawsuit in King County Superior Court, arguing that the city failed to conduct a review in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act before permitting the annual event.

This is the sort of crap that makes environmental activists look like assholes. Mr. Schroeter could've filed his lawsuit in January, or last August, and given the state some time to whip up the environmental review he's requesting. But he waited until days before the event because what he really wants is to see the event cancelled. Back to the Seattle Times:

Schroeter said he fears that all the people showing up at the park at once could kick loose the 18-inch cap of protective soil that helps keep contaminants locked in the dirt. He also wondered why shooting 5,000 explosive shells over Lake Union didn't require some kind of review to make sure it didn't hurt fish.

"I'm not trying to stop the fireworks," he said.

Sure you're not, asshole.

The city maintains that the annual fireworks display is exempted from environmental review by state law.