Maintenance work is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. During that time our website will not be available. All Ecology Web applications (that are hosted through Consolidated Technology Services) will also be unavailable.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Ecology website down for maintenance on Oct 4
Maintenance work is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. During that time our website will not be available. All Ecology Web applications (that are hosted through Consolidated Technology Services) will also be unavailable.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Ocean Acidification is real
Maia Bellon, Director
Department of Ecology takes threats from ocean acidification very seriously. This is not a surprise to many, given our policy and science leadership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to understand and address ocean acidification. But local meteorologist Cliff Mass’s September 7 blog is causing some people to question just what our position is, and whether ocean acidification is real.
Let’s be clear. Ocean acidification is real. Determining the causes, impacts, and identifying potential solutions are high priorities for our agency and our state.
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Let’s be clear. Ocean acidification is real. Determining the causes, impacts, and identifying potential solutions are high priorities for our agency and our state.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Around the Sound: About those oysters ...
By Seth Preston, communications manager, Toxics Cleanup Program
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| A worker washes oyster shells into Port Gamble Bay. |
In an earlier ECOconnect post, we talked about how Ecology is teaming with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and others to bring Olympia oysters back to Port Gamble Bay.
The Puget Sound Restoration Fund recently spread seeded oyster shells to provide a base for reviving the Olympia oyster population in the bay. The goal is to support restoration of Washington's only native oyster.
Composting at the office turns would-be waste into valuable product
By Michelle Andrews, organics specialist, and Erika Holmes, communications
Food is the largest component of our garbage by weight, at 17 percent in Washington and 21 percent nationwide. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, about 40 percent of the food grown in the United States isn’t eaten. Meanwhile, about 15 percent of our population doesn’t know where their next meal will come from.
Food is the largest component of our garbage by weight, at 17 percent in Washington and 21 percent nationwide. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, about 40 percent of the food grown in the United States isn’t eaten. Meanwhile, about 15 percent of our population doesn’t know where their next meal will come from.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Pollution Prevention Week: Product Testing
By Andrew Wineke, communications, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at Ecology’s product testing efforts.
Knowledge is power, as the saying goes. Preventing pollution is hard enough. If we had to guess where pollution was coming from, it would be even harder. So one very important part of our pollution-prevention efforts is testing consumer products.
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at Ecology’s product testing efforts.
Knowledge is power, as the saying goes. Preventing pollution is hard enough. If we had to guess where pollution was coming from, it would be even harder. So one very important part of our pollution-prevention efforts is testing consumer products.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
What our Eyes Over Puget Sound saw on Sept. 16
By Sandy Howard, Communication Manager, Environmental
Assessment Program
Have you ever looked at water from Puget Sound under a microscope?
You may be surprised at what you see.
Pollution Prevention Week: Green Chemistry
By Andrew Wineke, communications, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Ecology mobilizes response in aftermath of fires, flash flooding
Scorched earth, torrential rains result in widespread devastation
across Okanogan County
By Joye
Redfield-Wilder, communications manager, Central Regional OfficeThis month, crews with the Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) celebrated the 20th anniversary of their association with AmeriCorps' by getting wet and dirty on the Methow River as part of Ecology's large response to devastating wildfires and flash flooding in the Methow Valley.
New Hanford Display at Richland Public Library
by Heather John, education & community outreach specialist, Nuclear Waste Program
As a new hire to Ecology’s public involvement team, I was certainly
excited to get my feet wet in the education outreach pool. But not being a
native to Tri-Cities, I definitely had a lot to learn about Hanford before I could start
finding creative ways to teach others. Everything from local history and
legends to the science of radioactivity and the history of the Cold War was on
my agenda. Because I was new to all of this, I thought the best method to learn
was to start from the beginning and collect all the facts I could.
As a new hire to Ecology’s public involvement team, I was certainly
excited to get my feet wet in the education outreach pool. But not being a
native to Tri-Cities, I definitely had a lot to learn about Hanford before I could start
finding creative ways to teach others. Everything from local history and
legends to the science of radioactivity and the history of the Cold War was on
my agenda. Because I was new to all of this, I thought the best method to learn
was to start from the beginning and collect all the facts I could.Pollution Prevention Week: Chemical Action Plans
By Andrew Wineke, communications, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at Ecology’s chemical action plans.
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at Ecology’s chemical action plans.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Pollution Prevention Week: Technical Assistance
By Andrew Wineke, communications, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at Ecology’s technical assistance programs.
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at Ecology’s technical assistance programs.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Pollution Prevention Week: Local Source Control
By Andrew Wineke, communications, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at the Local Source Control Partnership.
Sept. 15-21 is Pollution Prevention Week, and we’re taking the week to explore some of the ways Ecology is working to keep our air clean, our waters pure, and our communities safe from toxic chemicals.
Today, we’re looking at the Local Source Control Partnership.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Tacoma fights air pollution and improves economic potential
By Melanie Forster, Outreach and Education, Air Quality Program
Tacoma has seen its share of major employers leave the city and take their jobs elsewhere. Job growth declined in recent years and employment numbers are still behind 2008* levels. The reasons a company may choose to relocate are many. But, did you know that air pollution may be one of the reasons companies seek greener pastures elsewhere?
Tacoma has seen its share of major employers leave the city and take their jobs elsewhere. Job growth declined in recent years and employment numbers are still behind 2008* levels. The reasons a company may choose to relocate are many. But, did you know that air pollution may be one of the reasons companies seek greener pastures elsewhere?
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Tackling Toxics: Is your roof shedding chemicals into our lakes, rivers and Puget Sound?
By Alli Kingfisher, Building Materials and Sustainability Specialist, Waste 2 Resources Program
Ecology scientists Kyle Graunke and Tom Gries collect runoff samples while Ecology Director Maia Bellon looks on.
Here at Ecology, we often talk about non-point pollution that contaminates our waterways.
This is the kind of pollution that is often invisible. It comes from lots people doing lots of things on the land, and from lots of different places. It’s oil from leaking cars, fertilizer and pesticides from our yards, and dog poop from our beloved pets.
Ecology scientists Kyle Graunke and Tom Gries collect runoff samples while Ecology Director Maia Bellon looks on.
Here at Ecology, we often talk about non-point pollution that contaminates our waterways.
This is the kind of pollution that is often invisible. It comes from lots people doing lots of things on the land, and from lots of different places. It’s oil from leaking cars, fertilizer and pesticides from our yards, and dog poop from our beloved pets.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Everett Smelter Plume: Soil removal starts at more homes
By Seth Preston, communications manager, Toxics Cleanup Program
We're moving dirt again in Everett.
Our cleanup contractor has started work at 19 homes in northeast Everett to remove soil from yards contaminated by fallout from the old Everett Smelter. Clean soil will be brought in, and new sod will be laid.
If you're a resident of northeast Everett or you're just curious about how these cleanups work, be sure to check out our photo galleries of past work. The images with this post also provide a glimpse.
We also have plenty of information on how to protect yourself and your family from low-level contaminated soil, and how to work in your garden safely.
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| A worker digs up soil from an Everett home's yard. |
We're moving dirt again in Everett.
Our cleanup contractor has started work at 19 homes in northeast Everett to remove soil from yards contaminated by fallout from the old Everett Smelter. Clean soil will be brought in, and new sod will be laid.
More to come
That work is expected to carry into early 2015. We're also going to be doing soil testing at about 50 other homes next year, to get ready for cleanup work in coming years.
Contamination from arsenic, lead and other metals was detected in 1990 at the former Everett Smelter property near North Broadway and East Marine View Drive.
Studies also showed that arsenic and lead from smokestack emissions settled onto the ground in the northeastern part of the city. About 500 private residences, three city parks, and commercial and industrial areas were impacted.
Contamination from arsenic, lead and other metals was detected in 1990 at the former Everett Smelter property near North Broadway and East Marine View Drive.
Studies also showed that arsenic and lead from smokestack emissions settled onto the ground in the northeastern part of the city. About 500 private residences, three city parks, and commercial and industrial areas were impacted.
See for yourself
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| Workers lay new sod at an Everett home. |
We also have plenty of information on how to protect yourself and your family from low-level contaminated soil, and how to work in your garden safely.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Around the Sound: More Anacortes work gearing up
By Seth Preston, communications manager, Toxics Cleanup Program
The public can comment on Anacortes Port Log Yard cleanup.
Digging starts later this fall at the Former Shell Tank Farm.We're getting ready to start a new round of Puget Sound Initiative cleanup work in Fidalgo Bay.
Progress is going to be made in the next few months on two cleanup projects, in cooperation with the Port of Anacortes.
The port used the waterfront site at 718 4th St. for log handling from the mid-1960s to about 2004. Operations included log rafting and transferring logs from water to upland sorting and handling areas on the port’s Pier 2. From 1978 to 1979, a company leased the area for similar uses.
After the facility closed in 2004, the port looked at potential environmental impacts from decades of log-handling activities. The investigation found wood debris in sediments above levels considered healthy for marine animals. Investigations from 2008 to 2010 showed the site may contain dioxins and furans above human health risk standards.
So Ecology and the port are working together to address those issues.
Shell Oil Co. leased the port-owned site and used it is as a bulk fuel storage and distribution facility from 1930 until 1987.
In November, the port plans to dig up and haul away about 4,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. New, clean soil will fill in the excavated areas.
Stay tuned!
The public can comment on Anacortes Port Log Yard cleanup.
Digging starts later this fall at the Former Shell Tank Farm.
Progress is going to be made in the next few months on two cleanup projects, in cooperation with the Port of Anacortes.
Work coming up
Starting Monday, Sept. 8, the public can comment on proposed work at the Anacortes Port Log Yard site around 718 4th St.The port used the waterfront site at 718 4th St. for log handling from the mid-1960s to about 2004. Operations included log rafting and transferring logs from water to upland sorting and handling areas on the port’s Pier 2. From 1978 to 1979, a company leased the area for similar uses.
After the facility closed in 2004, the port looked at potential environmental impacts from decades of log-handling activities. The investigation found wood debris in sediments above levels considered healthy for marine animals. Investigations from 2008 to 2010 showed the site may contain dioxins and furans above human health risk standards.
So Ecology and the port are working together to address those issues.
Can you dig it?
Next up — what we call the Former Shell Tank Farm site. The property is located between 13th and 14th streets east of Commercial Avenue.Shell Oil Co. leased the port-owned site and used it is as a bulk fuel storage and distribution facility from 1930 until 1987.
In November, the port plans to dig up and haul away about 4,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. New, clean soil will fill in the excavated areas.
More to come
We have more cleanups planned in the future as we continue working with the port, area tribes, other site owners, and stakeholders around Fidalgo Bay.Stay tuned!
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