tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45100569504799220352012-01-31T09:41:52.257-08:00Working with you for a better Washington.WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.comBlogger4271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-41570680517065967642012-01-31T09:38:00.001-08:002012-01-31T09:41:52.293-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans start at 4 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012) in Chelan and Douglas counties, where air quality is expected to worsen this week, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan and Douglas counties will continue until at least 10 a.m. Monday (Feb. 6), when they could be called

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-13070399766484103822012-01-31T09:26:00.000-08:002012-01-31T09:26:40.082-08:00

Updated educator workshops By Brook Beeler, Environmental Educator, Office of Communication and Education Did you know? Ecology provides science-based, interdisciplinary environmental education curricula and award-winning materials. These quality environmental education resources teach problem solving and critical thinking for students. Ecology also has exceptional databases and research links.

Brook Beelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11396174472257245765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-5919112485029996962012-01-27T13:00:00.000-08:002012-01-27T13:36:36.134-08:00

By Ted Sturdevant, Ecology DirectorToday, I am launching a new Web page, "Conversations on Washington's Future". I am hoping it will help stimulate a statewide conversation about what quality of life means to the people of Washington in the 21st century.Most of us would agree that quality of life includes an economy in which we can all prosper, strong communities and a healthy environment. The

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-16386038723845385452012-01-25T14:45:00.000-08:002012-01-25T16:02:48.295-08:00

By Annette Frahm, Green Shorelines Outreach Coordinator for WRIA 8To promote more salmon-friendly shorelines around Lakes Washington and Sammamish, an interagency team in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) has started a Green Shorelines Blog.The blog is aimed at local people but may be useful for other lake settings. It provides a platform for sharing case studies about

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-84076112892914770082012-01-24T09:03:00.000-08:002012-01-24T17:29:11.843-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramWe’re inviting the public to come to a public meeting Thursday (Jan. 26, 2012) to learn about plans to clean up contamination at the Kaiser Trentwood Works site near Spokane.The site covers 512 acres along the north bank of the Spokane River over the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.Historic aluminum production operations and

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-1257077530348266662012-01-23T10:57:00.000-08:002012-01-23T12:31:51.125-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe Peninsula Daily News recently published this article on melting glaciers in Olympic National Park.(Coincidentally, it was published right before last week’s big snow and ice storm.)You can find more here about the study and see some striking photos that show how much specific glaciers have melted off over the decades. The web page

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-15057928984340092382012-01-19T10:40:00.000-08:002012-01-23T12:27:01.711-08:00

By Jani Gilbert and Sandy Howard Every winter the phones at Ecology light up with questions about de-icers and anti-icers. Are they safe? Do they pollute? Is one product better than another?Good questions, since nationwide we dump millions of tons of de-icing and traction materials onto our roadways every year."There is no black and white answer," said Mike Hepp of Ecology’s Spokane office. "

Sandy Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02455012171242912710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-79861778245061701392012-01-13T15:23:00.000-08:002012-01-13T16:28:18.999-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramA burn ban in Kittitas County will expire Saturday (Jan. 14, 2012) because forecasts show changing weather conditions will improve air quality there.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will expire at 4 p.m. Saturday.During a Stage 1 ban, use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces)

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-60811309479278174322012-01-12T09:25:00.000-08:002012-01-13T15:00:18.757-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a map showing the largest single-source emitters of greenhouse gases in each state.The New York Times published this story about the map and what it shows.Check it out. Pretty interesting.For more information about greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, see the offerings on this

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-35232616246430128022012-01-11T14:53:00.000-08:002012-01-13T14:52:31.144-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramA burn ban starts at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012) for Kittitas County, where air quality is expected to worsen during the next few days.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will continue until at least 4 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 14), when it could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 ban applies to unnecessary use of

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-68270239006331981872012-01-10T10:17:00.000-08:002012-01-10T12:09:09.593-08:00

by Justine Asohmbom, Puget Sound educatorAn oil leak in your car can be a frustrating thing, not to mention the fact that oil that drips onto driveways, parking lots and streets can find its way to our local creeks and Puget Sound, hurting wildlife and habitat. A new, free one-morning workshop gives you the basic knowledge to prevent and stop most car leaks.You can do it!Even if you never saw

Justine Asohmbomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06160791120794411826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-53229131167987133642012-01-09T13:28:00.000-08:002012-01-10T11:47:59.606-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramOver the weekend, the Yakima Herald-Republic published this interesting article about how warming temperatures are melting glaciers on Mount Adams.The photo of Mount Adams is from the U.S. Geological Survey.For more information on Cascade Mountains glaciers, check out the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project from Nichols College in

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-21394879536315068582012-01-06T11:58:00.000-08:002012-01-06T16:38:25.191-08:00

By Barbara MacGregor, Web Communications, LaceyWith all the water that’s been falling from the sky recently, it’s fitting that there’ve been a number of good news stories about water-related topics.For the third year in a row, Ecology invited folks to get their cameras and snap photos of the season’s unusually high tides. People in Australia, British Columbia, Oregon and other places are doing

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-25481695815454325092011-12-22T13:23:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:36:04.450-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramThe (Everett) Herald has a good rundown on the work under way to clean up arsenic and lead contamination from the Everett Smelter at properties in North Everett.This phase of work will wrap up in spring 2012. More properties will be cleaned up in 2012 and subsequent years.Check out our Everett Smelter web pages to learn more about the

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-6094642436429587352011-12-20T08:55:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:28:55.571-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will expire today (Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011) in seven Eastern Washington counties because air quality has improved, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Kittitas, and Walla Walla counties will expire at 10 a.m. today.During the burn

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-89080918830387594852011-12-19T10:26:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:45:03.740-08:00

BEACH Program UpdatePort Angeles - Hollywood Beach in Clallam County is open for recreational water activity. After receiving notification of a nearby sewage discharge, the county collected bacteria samples at the beach. Results indicate bacteria concentrations have dropped to background levels. Clallam County Health District removed the swimming advisory signs today, previously posted on

Christopher Clintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208606837568057011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-81888230786096521272011-12-16T13:19:00.001-08:002011-12-19T08:49:19.995-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramEcology started calling burn bans in some Eastern Washington counties on Dec. 3.And here we are, nearly two weeks later, with the burn bans still in effect in Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties. In addition, similar Stage 1 burn bans are in effect in Kittitas and Walla Walla counties.This morning, I mentioned to Clint

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-88794655435819975082011-12-15T11:46:00.000-08:002011-12-15T16:02:23.614-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will continue until at least Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2011) in seven Eastern Washington counties due to stagnant air conditions, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Kittitas, and Walla Walla counties will continue until at least 10 a.m.

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-35693818322027029202011-12-13T09:01:00.000-08:002011-12-13T11:47:16.206-08:00

BEACH Program UpdateToday, the Clallam County Health Department issued a swimming advisory at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles. The advisory was issued due to a sewage discharge near the beach.Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne

Julie Lowe Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121302313403906711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-74728388264905475252011-12-12T16:21:00.000-08:002011-12-20T08:33:54.520-08:00

By Suzanna Stoike and Johanna Ofner, Department of EcologyPublic invited to share photos of high tideDid you know some of the year’s highest tides occur in the winter?These tides — often called “King Tides” — occur naturally when the sun and the moon align, causing an increased gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans.This year Washington’s king tides occur in December and January.The Department

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-22068111634449725042011-12-09T14:44:00.000-08:002011-12-12T10:24:15.316-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communication Manager, Air Quality ProgramA burn ban starts at 4 p.m. today (Friday, Dec. 9, 2011) for Kittitas County, where stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 13), when it could be called off or extended. The

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-81315011459935272762011-12-08T16:19:00.001-08:002011-12-14T23:19:50.050-08:00

By Erika Holmes, Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist, Nuclear Waste Program Working with Jeff Holmes (my husband), an English instructor at the Tri-Cities branch of Washington State University (WSU), we tasked his 48 technical communication students with the goal of reaching high school and college students about the Hanford nuclear site cleanup. Usually when students are

Erika Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463581067686705369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-20815788103109596422011-12-08T15:09:00.001-08:002011-12-12T14:13:28.412-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will continue until at least Monday (Dec. 12, 2011) in five Eastern Washington counties because stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).In addition, Ecology also is calling a Stage 1 burn ban in Walla Walla County starting at 10 a.m. Friday (Dec. 9).Ecology’s

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-35613480333054825122011-12-07T17:31:00.000-08:002011-12-08T13:30:33.246-08:00

By Curt Hart, spills communications manager, 360-480-7908 (curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov)UPDATE: Dec. 8, 2011 (2:45 a.m.)Ecology, Washington State Patrol, Tukwila Fire Department, Washington State Department of Transportation, King County Sheriff's Office and private cleanup contractors continued working through the night to remove the truck and trailer from the Duwamish River and keep traffic safely

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-42690316368046230512011-12-07T17:00:00.000-08:002011-12-08T13:19:12.568-08:00

by Margaret Hill, Administrative Services, LaceyThe end of the year can be hard on budgets and on the environment. What follows are some ideas on how to make the upcoming holidays a little greener and maybe even help you keep a little more "green" of your own.Keep giving gifts, but...Consider giving the gift of service such as cooking a meal, tuning up a friend’s bicycle, or watching the kids so

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-31411743796489426482011-12-06T11:31:00.000-08:002011-12-07T16:55:23.912-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramTonight we are holding our fourth and final public meeting on the draft Tacoma Smelter Plume cleanup plan.Tuesday, December 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Des Moines Activity Center2045 South 216th St., Des Moines6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Open house session7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Presentation, question and answer8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Open house

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-59837387243319604302011-12-06T09:35:00.000-08:002011-12-07T16:45:44.717-08:00

BEACH Program UpdateThe King County Health District closed the swimming beach at Seahurst County Park in Burien, WA. The County received notification of a sewage spill near the swimming beach.Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne

Julie Lowe Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121302313403906711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-4867775209047890822011-12-05T11:48:00.000-08:002011-12-07T16:42:11.960-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will continue until at least Friday (Dec. 9, 2011) in five Eastern Washington counties where stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties will continue until at least 10 a.m. Friday, when they could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 bans

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-77009847491937702092011-12-04T19:57:00.000-08:002011-12-05T09:00:40.977-08:00

By Curt Hart, Ecology Communications Manager, 360-480-7908 SEATTLE – The Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard, NRC Environmental Services and Ballard Diving & Salvage will work tomorrow to raise the Top Notch, an 85-foot boat that sank and spilled diesel fuel today inside the Railway Marina in Port Orchard in Kitsap County.Federal, state and private responders deployed oil

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-11796452216709059532011-12-04T15:43:00.000-08:002011-12-05T08:54:04.777-08:00

By Curt Hart, communications manager, 360-480-7908 (curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov)OLYMPIA – The state Department of Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard and Railway Marina are responding to a 85-foot boat that sank today at the Port Orchard marina in Kitsap County. The wood-hulled pleasure craft, Top Knot, has an unknown amount of diesel fuel on board. Railway Marina has hired a private cleanup contractor to help

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-83012299538351245312011-12-02T12:03:00.000-08:002011-12-05T08:33:50.770-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will start Saturday (Dec. 3, 2011) in five Eastern Washington counties to protect residents from worsening air quality.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties takes effect at noon Saturday and will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 6). The bans could be called off or

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-20238681325732835252011-12-01T12:54:00.000-08:002011-12-01T16:05:17.707-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe National Weather Service is warning people that stagnant air will cause air pollution to build up during the next several days throughout central and eastern Washington.The agency’s Spokane office issued air stagnation advisories today for a period starting Friday and continuing through at least Monday morning.Smoke from outdoor

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-43919951834776067072011-11-29T15:01:00.000-08:002011-11-30T16:31:31.845-08:00

By Marian Abbett, Site Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramOn November 15th, on schedule, I received Rayonier’s draft Upland Data Summary Report. This report pulls together all the contamination data we have for contamination on the Rayonier Mill property.Why is this report important?We call this report “Volume One” for short. It is the first of four volumes that will make up the cleanup plan for a

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-79307862552895304222011-11-29T09:30:00.000-08:002011-11-29T17:01:14.696-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramGrowing your own fruits and veggies can be rewarding and healthy...even if you may have arsenic and lead in your soil. Many gardeners in the Tacoma Smelter Plume have asked us whether they can still eat from their gardens.The answer is yes, but you should still take precautions.Most plants don't take up arsenic and lead into

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-6046890559051595762011-11-28T02:05:00.000-08:002011-11-30T16:29:11.773-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 2:30 a.m., November 28, 2011BELLEVUE – The state Departments of Ecology and Transportation, Washington State Patrol, Bellevue Fire Department, a private cleanup contractor and other teams are responding to a gasoline spill after a tanker overturned on Interstate 405 on Sunday evening in Bellevue.Up to 3,400 gallons of gasoline is believed to have spilled to the roadway,

Dieter Bohrmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759001331415706615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-46754769855337698772011-11-23T19:55:00.000-08:002011-11-29T16:54:24.484-08:00

UPDATE: Nov. 24, 2011 (11 a.m.)On Wednesday evening (Nov. 23, 2011), Ecology and Seattle Public Utilities worked closely with the owner of the property with the old gasoline storage tank. The property owner quickly hired a private cleanup contract to secure the site to keep any more gasoline-contaminated surface water runoff from further reaching the city's storm drain system — including stacking

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-48114954057108293852011-11-21T10:06:00.000-08:002011-11-21T11:03:37.175-08:00

By Johanna Ofner, Carbon Smart Initiative, Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) internOn a recent cloudy Saturday, 35 volunteers – Ecology employees, St. Martin’s University students, Evergreen State College students, Kiwanis Club members, and Washington Conservation Corps members – came together to harvest potatoes and winter squash from the food bank garden located on the grounds of Ecology’s

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-52356256224291366072011-11-21T09:00:00.000-08:002011-11-21T14:06:08.742-08:00

By Amy Hargrove, Soil Safety Program Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramAt all three of our recent public meetings — Tacoma, Vashon Island, and University Place — we heard similar questions about arsenic and lead in soil. This blog goes through a little of the science of the Tacoma Smelter Plume...Will the arsenic and lead in soil leach out or decrease over time?In general, no. Arsenic and lead

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-57472305601090549672011-11-18T15:29:00.000-08:002011-11-21T09:12:36.785-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a new report that concludes climate change will cause more flooding and drought conditions.This Washington Post story notes:“The report — the culmination of a two-year process involving 100 scientists and policy experts — suggests that researchers are far more confident

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-91101506694908823152011-11-18T15:01:00.000-08:002011-11-28T14:45:33.154-08:00

By Ken Zarker, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction ProgramEcology Director Ted Sturdevant testified on Nov. 17 at the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 . In conveying his views, Ted outlined the reasons why states care about modernizing Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). He talked about what states have had to do faced with an outdated and

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-75353730788837572142011-11-18T13:12:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:50:54.036-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramThe town of Skykomish has gone through an amazing transformation in the past five years. Today (Friday, Nov. 18, 2011), the town’s residents and others will celebrate an historic pollution cleanup and their plans for the future.A railway maintenance and fueling facility operated in Skykomish — located along Stevens Pass — from the

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-32464689632792993052011-11-15T18:09:00.000-08:002011-11-17T11:35:46.503-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramLast night, we held our third of four public meetings for the Tacoma Smelter Plume cleanup plan in the cafeteria at Curtis High School. The crowd was smaller than our group on Vashon last week, with 32 in attendance.People came from all over the Pierce County part of the plume. We heard many of the same concerns voiced at the

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-21212460124456530012011-11-15T15:25:00.000-08:002011-11-15T15:56:47.583-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramI’ve written fairly often about the health risks associated with breathing wood smoke.Here’s the latest news on that front – Ecology is providing money to our clean-air partners to help get rid of old, high-polluting wood-burning devices.Fine particles in smoke are so small they can easily get into your lungs. Once there, they can cause

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-31147329619342639302011-11-15T13:18:00.000-08:002011-11-15T14:36:35.524-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramTomorrow night we will be at Curtis High School for our third public meeting on a draft cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume.Wednesday, November 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Curtis High School cafeteria8425 40th Street West, University Place6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Open house session7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Presentation, question and answer8:00

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-83699333822269507632011-11-15T12:48:00.000-08:002011-11-15T14:31:56.864-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramLast Wednesday, Vashon Island set a record for the largest public meeting any of our staff had ever witnessed. We had nearly 200 island residents in attendance, prompting a run for extra coffee cups!We already had a large crowd by 6:00 p.m. and a lively open house session. After many good one-on-one conversations, we began

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-2091055450305745152011-11-14T00:59:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:47:14.346-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 2:30 a.m., November 14, 2011News release #2Media contact: Dieter Bohrmann, Department of Ecology, 360-701-7401TULALIP RESERVATION – The Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and Tulalip Fire Department remain on the scene of a tank leaking ammonia on a marine beach on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Ammonia is a corrosive

Dieter Bohrmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759001331415706615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-23727904677891812672011-11-13T21:03:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:42:59.772-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12:05 a.m., November 14, 2011Media contact: Dieter Bohrmann, Department of Ecology, 360-701-7401TULALIP RESERVATION – The Washington Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, Tulalip fire and fisheries departments and a cleanup contractor are responding to an ammonia release from a tank on a marine beach on the Tulalip Indian Reservation.

Dieter Bohrmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759001331415706615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-48049343782597953082011-11-12T15:02:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:40:43.319-08:00

By Jim Sachet, Spills Response Manager, Southwest Regional OfficeThe M/V Edfu arrived safely in Tacoma shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday. The Edfu lost both of its anchors during a maneuver on the Columbia Bar on Thursday evening. Because sailing with no anchors is dangerous and the recent history of this vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard required that it be escorted by tug boats from Astoria through the

Dieter Bohrmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759001331415706615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-66905468138490026582011-11-11T12:16:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:30:22.038-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 3:45 p.m., November 11, 2011News release #2 Contact: Dieter Bohrmann, Department of Ecology media relations; 360-701-7401OLYMPIA – The Department of Ecology is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to escort a cargo vessel to the Port of Tacoma for inspection and repairs. The M/V Edfu is currently in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Neah Bay.The M/V Edfu briefly lost

Dieter Bohrmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759001331415706615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-37189515899867485132011-11-10T20:43:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:14:08.881-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 10, 2011, 9:50 p.m.Contact: Dieter Bohrmann, Department of Ecology media relations; 360-701-7401OLYMPIA – The Department of Ecology is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to escort a cargo vessel from Astoria to Port Angeles after it briefly lost propulsion Thursday evening as it was crossing the Columbia River bar. The M/V Edfu has since regained power and is

Dieter Bohrmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759001331415706615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-40323152552721997242011-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:01:02.821-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramFor decades, creosote was used for coating wood pilings for docks and other structures built in and over Puget Sound waters.While many of those structures have deteriorated or fallen into disrepair, the chemicals from creosote-treated materials continue to leach into the Sound’s water and sediments and onto its beaches.Ecology removes

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-3865491884718420862011-11-08T16:36:00.000-08:002011-11-14T08:53:47.762-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramThis blog follows up on my recap of our public meeting in Tacoma last week.At over 1,000 square miles, the Tacoma Smelter is our state’s largest cleanup site. It is also one of our more complex sites because it impacts places where people live and where children play.A $94 million settlement from Asarco will cover a great

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-51388121727842599602011-11-08T15:28:00.000-08:002011-11-14T08:48:18.791-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramHere are some links to some recent news articles related to climate change: The Seattle Times reports on the continuing advance of the pine beetle and the threats it poses to Northwest trees. The Seattle Times also published this guest column on how ocean acidification threatens marine conservation and resource management. This piece

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-84640606128672850322011-11-07T15:37:00.000-08:002011-11-07T17:12:31.284-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramLast week, Ecology’s Air Quality Program announced the latest round of funding that we’re providing to Washington school districts looking to cut fuel costs and harmful emissions from school buses.Ecology helps school districts pay for idle-reduction technology. The devices allow drivers to warm school bus cabins, defrost windows, and

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-51046789303989828602011-11-07T14:04:00.000-08:002011-11-07T17:08:20.622-08:00

By Meg Bommarito, Project Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramEcology has started cleanup work in an area of the Everett Smelter cleanup site.Ecology’s contractor, Clearcreek, is removing contaminated soil from residential properties on Balsam Lane and Hawthorne Street. Cleanup this year will include 24 properties north and south of Broadway. Construction work will continue through the winter and

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-73990854767720403412011-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:002011-11-07T17:03:37.394-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramJoin us on Vashon Island to learn more about our plan for cleaning up the Tacoma Smelter Plume! McMurray Middle School cafeteria9329 Cemetery Road, Vashon(206) 463-91686:30 – 7:00 p.m. Open house session7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Presentation, question and answer8:00 – 8:30 p.m. Open house sessionYou can review the plan and submit your

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-78571491650444934762011-11-04T13:02:00.001-07:002011-11-07T16:58:57.582-08:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramOn Thursday (Nov. 3, 2011), Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership released the latest look at what’s known about toxic chemical pollution in the Puget Sound region.The new Puget Sound Toxics Assessment is the final component of a multi-year, multi-agency effort that started in 2006 to understand where toxic chemicals come from, how

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-60944659861435482802011-11-04T09:31:00.000-07:002011-11-07T16:52:06.531-08:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramWednesday night, we held our first of four public meetings on a draft cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume. Around 45 community members attended the event at Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma. After our slide presentation, we had a lively question and answer session that lasted nearly an hour!We received a

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-81373607510085203482011-11-01T13:00:00.000-07:002011-11-01T17:29:39.383-07:00

By Brook Beeler, watershed education coordinator, Eastern Regional OfficeKnow how to dump smartMy mother-in-law pulled up to our house recently with my daughter, a huge pan of barbecued ribs, and a problem. Luckily the problem was not related to my six-year-old. It had to do with that delicious pan of ribs steeped in rich barbecue sauce and the carpet in her truck. It spilled and she was left

Brook Beelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11396174472257245765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-16086957627571193022011-10-31T13:20:00.000-07:002011-11-02T14:42:13.476-07:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramWe're holding a public comment period October 20 - December 20, 2011. Join us to learn more about our cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume!Wednesday, November 2ndPoint Defiance Elementary School cafeteria4330 N. Visscher St., Tacoma(253) 571-69006:30 – 7:00 p.m. Open house session7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Presentation, question

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-71353879270023403262011-10-28T10:55:00.000-07:002011-10-28T11:14:33.901-07:00

by Jani Gilbert, communications manager, Eastern Regional OfficeEcology is working to make water available in the Quincy Basin Groundwater Management Subarea. This means growth in the tourism industry so people have new vacation options; farmers who were for years staring blankly at dry, unproductive land are now looking out at fresh, new crops; and entrepreneurs with dreams of new industry are

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-59263496813396785112011-10-26T15:35:00.000-07:002011-10-26T16:08:36.690-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program BEFORE:AFTER:Razing Roby'sCleanup work in the Central Washington town of Buena got off to a fast — and noticeable — start last week.Last week, Yakima County used money provided by Ecology to hire workers to tear down the old Roby’s Service Station in Buena, a small community in Yakima County. The abandoned husk sat on property

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-3965940315665527732011-10-26T15:00:00.000-07:002011-10-26T16:13:12.388-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramEcology is asking for comments about a revised proposal for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from TransAlta’s coal-fired power plant near Centralia in Lewis County.The TransAlta plant is the state’s largest stationary source of nitrogen oxide emissions. Nitrogen oxide is a visibility-reducing pollutant, which contributes to regional

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-85714683432228832902011-10-20T15:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T14:43:11.256-07:00

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramEcology is holding a comment period October 20 – December 20 on a cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume. This plan includes soil cleanup for the most contaminated areas of the plume and for play areas. It also manages risk by educating people about how to protect themselves.Why it mattersOver 1,000 square miles of King,

Hannah Aoyagihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17264439718165320979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-40205349075413382232011-10-19T16:26:00.000-07:002011-10-19T16:48:11.057-07:00

By Ken Zarker, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction ProgramChemicals regulations are changing across the United States, as well as globally. The federal chemical policy – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) — is intended to keep the public safe from toxic chemicals. This law was passed more than 35 years ago and has never been updated. It needs an overhaul.The past few months have been an

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-3743392645716182362011-10-19T15:40:00.000-07:002011-10-19T17:14:57.075-07:00

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills ProgramOn Thursday October 13, I wrote a blog about the oil spill affecting New Zealand and how two recent incidents involving commercial vessels in Washington’s waters highlighted similar spill risks here.Oil spill in West SeattleAnyone who turned on their TV, radio, surfed the web, or read a newspaper last Friday October 14 probably heard about the

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-6728573941927145842011-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:002011-10-19T17:05:03.390-07:00

By Sandy Howard, communication manager, Water Quality Program Most people get this idea: What we do on the land causes pollution problems in our lakes, rivers and Puget Sound.Polluted runoffRunoff from surfaces in populated areas picks up chemicals and bacteria and carries it downstream into our waters. Right now, polluted runoff is the biggest threat to urban-area lakes, rivers and Puget

Sandy Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02455012171242912710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-56886867085085903682011-10-17T14:12:00.000-07:002011-10-19T16:59:35.229-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramIn the next week, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will host two events to talk about air quality problems in Pierce County and possible solutions.A portion of Pierce County covering a large part of Tacoma and neighboring cities is designated as a “nonattainment area.” That means the air quality within the area failed to meet federal

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-18829649259426197752011-10-15T13:21:00.000-07:002011-10-17T10:57:10.022-07:00

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills ProgramEcology and Gig Harbor fire and police departments are responding to an oil spill in Gig Harbor in Pierce County. A barge owned by Marine Floats with a 5-ton deck crane sank in the harbor. The sunken barge has leaked an unknown amount of fuel, causing an oil sheen on the water. The fuel has been removed from the barge crane. The barge owner has

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-33131342995183191342011-10-15T12:33:00.000-07:002011-10-17T10:54:28.597-07:00

By Kathy Davis, Communications Manager, Hazardous Waste ProgramEcology, U.S. Coast Guard, Tacoma Fire Department and Washington State Maritime Cooperative (WSMC) are responding to a diesel spill at the mouth of the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma.The 195-foot fishing tender, “Eastern Wind” spilled an unknown amount of diesel while transferring fuel within the vessel – from one tank to another. The

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-73112868902024377692011-10-14T16:28:00.000-07:002011-10-14T17:12:21.017-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramWe started seeking comments today (Friday, Oct. 14) for a proposed change in how cleanup work will move ahead at the sprawling Camp Bonneville site in Clark County.Ecology is overseeing the cleanup of the former military reservation, which the U.S. Army used for firing range practice and training from 1910 to 1995.In March 2006,

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-91128785341417476442011-10-13T17:30:00.000-07:002011-10-14T08:43:33.054-07:00

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Spills ProgramA dry-cargo barge, St. Elias, aground five miles southwest of Anacortes, Wash., in Rosario Strait, Oct. 10, 2011. Local communities along New Zealand’s North Island are bracing today for the potential impacts of a 450,000 gallon oil spill along that nation’s North Island.The spill started October 5 after the Rena, a 775-foot Liberian-flagged

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-53796270926711210202011-10-11T15:49:00.000-07:002011-10-13T12:26:34.072-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramEcology is starting a public dialogue on how we can update environmental standards to be more protective of people who eat fish and shellfish from the state’s waters.You can find out more information on this issue, and how you can participate in Ecology’s process, on this web portal and in this news release.This effort follows

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-52814522511994203282011-10-11T09:33:00.000-07:002011-10-12T16:52:50.999-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramThe U.S. Navy and The Nature Conservancy announced a landmark deal last week to protect Dabob Bay in Jefferson County.Dabob Bay is one of the most pristine, least developed and ecologically important estuaries in Hood Canal and Puget Sound. The Dabob Bay range is also the Navy’s premier location in the United States for research,

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-78730776257895706142011-10-10T13:47:00.000-07:002011-10-10T17:19:12.746-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe Seattle Times has this interesting story about how less ice in the Arctic is expected to mean more ship traffic in the region.Melting, thinning ice would open up more navigable waters for increased shipping of goods, more scientific exploration and more tourism activity.The catch is the United States is in danger of lagging behind in

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-58380606099151282022011-10-07T17:38:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:44:40.446-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program Combined efforts to clean up the Lower Duwamish Waterway in south Seattle took a major step forward this week.Work is under way on cleaning up the site known as Slip 4, one of the major pollution “hot spots” in the Lower Duwamish, which is a federal Superfund site.“The cleanup of Slip 4, about three miles upstream from Harbor Island,

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-48389881966476191442011-10-04T15:55:00.000-07:002011-10-05T08:02:59.608-07:00

By Tim Hill, Office of Columbia River Ecology’s Office of Columbia River (OCR) has a new tool to help us find the streamflow improvement projects that provide the most benefits to fish. Created with the help of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the “Columbia River Instream Atlas ” identifies where fish may be struggling and why and where we might have the most success with our

Tim Hill, OCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089477819724806077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-34584928613584354672011-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:002011-10-04T14:25:47.223-07:00

By Barb MacGregor, Web Communications ManagerBefore I worked at Ecology, I thought of the agency as a bunch of people who make and enforce regulations. True, the regulations help protect the environment and enforcers make sure the rules are followed. But I just never imagined it was the kind of place where my background in environmental education and stewardship would fit.Well, I’ve been here

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-56965492943359639602011-10-03T14:50:00.000-07:002011-10-04T08:16:38.735-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramI’ve written previously about Ecology’s Carbon Smart initiative. The effort aims to reduce our own climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions and also help other state agencies, businesses and individuals.Here are two more ways that we are working to “walk the talk”:See this recent blog post on electric vehicle charging stations now in

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-64228454236212482932011-10-03T13:29:00.001-07:002011-10-04T08:12:51.729-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramAutumn sends some people searching for their rakes, so they can gather falling leaves and other yard waste into a pile for burning.But don’t strike that match just yet.Lighting up the leaves is illegal in most Washington cities and all urban growth areas because such burning produces smoke that can harm your health when you breathe it.

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-84746954659325043062011-09-30T17:00:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:12:14.469-07:00

By Eli Levitt and Johanna Ofner, Climate Policy GroupThanks to a federal grant from the Department of Energy, Ecology recently installed an electric vehicle charging station at our Lacey Headquarters. If you’ve visited our facility, you might have noticed some rather unusual vehicles parked in front of it.Have you seen the brand new Nissan Leaf? How about the yellow Volkswagen Plugbug? Or the

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-78768457190797871562011-09-29T14:03:00.000-07:002011-10-03T14:14:42.001-07:00

By Diana Smith, Public Involvement CoordinatorView of Indian Island from atop a pile of slag and rubble remaining on the shoreline.Cleanup and restoration work at the former Irondale Iron and Steel site are now being planned for summer 2012. Cleanup will include removing contaminated soils, sediments, and slag; capping remaining contamination; and restoring the beach.The site in Jefferson County

Diana Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04787900252685288932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-61658853036507829602011-09-29T11:03:00.000-07:002011-09-29T16:08:05.937-07:00

By Joye Redfield-Wilder, Communication Manager, Central Regional Office^Smoke from the Monastery Complex fire on Satus Pass^Ecology staff Stan Rauh and Greg Hannahs with the mobile monitor.^Air quality monitoring reportTalk about turnaround time — it was midday Friday, Sept. 9, and a request had come in from the Klickitat County Health Department for air quality monitoring in Goldendale. The

WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-42524828311988905912011-09-28T16:40:00.000-07:002011-09-29T11:13:06.900-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramAlthough EPA’s plan to strengthen the nation’s health-based air quality standard for ozone levels has been delayed (Air Time, Sept. 2), there’s still movement on that front.That’s because the previous standard proposed by the Bush-era EPA still needs to be officially enacted. This piece from the New York Times explains what’s going

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-64146209338619340812011-09-27T11:13:00.001-07:002011-09-27T15:46:36.235-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramHere are recent, interesting articles and newspaper editorials on climate change policy and politics: Syndicated columnist Neal Peirce writes about how more and more business leaders are realizing that addressing climate change makes business sense. The Associated Press offers this special report about climate change denial in the United

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-89680329081166733582011-09-27T10:28:00.001-07:002011-09-27T15:26:43.924-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramJust a few interesting things that have come up in the past couple of weeks... The Kitsap Sun offers this rundown on a two-day event in October called “Water Courses: Connecting West Sound.” Looks like there are a number of interesting speakers and topics on the schedule. The Associated Press reported recently on national

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-47493189233968310672011-09-21T13:04:00.000-07:002011-09-21T13:08:27.277-07:00

BEACH Program UpdateSeahurst County Park in Burien, WA is open for swimming! Sample results show bacteria concentrations have dropped to background levels. The swimming beach was previously closed on September 16, 2011 due to a sewage spill.Visit the BEACH web site to find the latest results for these and other saltwater beaches: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/Stay updated about water

Julie Lowe Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121302313403906711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-28929101661441994842011-09-19T15:12:00.000-07:002011-09-19T17:37:42.474-07:00

By Bridget Mason, WCC Coordinator, Washington Conservation CorpsAdaptability is not just a slogan for our Washington Conservation Corps members. It’s a fact. We must continuously stay flexible to meet community needs whenever help is required.Washington Department of Natural Resources asks for firefighting helpOn September 6, 2011, our WCC members were working hard on their typical projects –

Bridget Mason, WCCnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-27524959922567251792011-09-16T14:04:00.000-07:002011-12-06T10:02:50.617-08:00

BEACH Program Update The King County Health District closed the beach at Seahurst County Park in Burien after receiving notification of a sewage spill near the beach. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.Stay updated about water

Julie Lowe Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121302313403906711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-38658613231791400972011-09-15T17:01:00.000-07:002011-09-19T11:37:19.704-07:00

By Dieter Bohrmann, Communications Consultant, Nuclear Waste ProgramA group of five nuclear experts from Brazil had a lot of serious questions when they visited Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program in Richland last month. One less serious – but no less important – question was: “How is the quality of your wine?”A team of high-ranking officials in the Brazilian government’s nuclear energy sector

Erika Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01463581067686705369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-55987951187057319592011-09-14T15:34:00.000-07:002011-09-15T15:35:27.889-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramThe 2011 Legislature provided Ecology with $6 million in the 2011-13 budget to work with communities to clean up several sites in Central and Eastern Washington.The money comes from the state’s voter-approved tax on hazardous substances. Funds will be used exclusively in Eastern Washington to clean up properties where the responsible

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-32184035634544644842011-09-14T09:52:00.000-07:002011-09-14T14:02:20.926-07:00

by Jani Gilbert, communication manager, Eastern Regional OfficePhotos: Lake SpokaneCaution!Go ahead! Enjoy your late summer swim in the lake! But avoid areas where the water looks like scummy green paint. It's probably a bloom of blue-green algae and sometimes it contains toxins.The algae blooms show up every year in many of our lakes and even rivers, often in late summer or early fall when the

Jani Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378595406182623314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-9336827258062914552011-09-13T16:02:00.000-07:002011-09-13T16:59:46.685-07:00

By Seth Preston Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program Here's a series of images that shows how cleanup work is remaking the Custom Plywood site on the Fidalgo Bay shore in Anacortes.The first photo, on the left, shows how the site — once home to a plywood mill, which burned down about 20 years ago — looked in March 2010.The middle photo was taken after work started in July 2011.The last

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-16961706167907809052011-09-09T14:49:00.000-07:002011-09-12T14:48:43.432-07:00

BEACH Program UpdateBay View State Park in Skagit County is open for swimming! Additional samples collected show bacteria concentrations have dropped to background levels.Visit the BEACH web site to find the latest results for these and other saltwater beaches: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters

Julie Lowe Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121302313403906711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-71047074111737998482011-09-02T09:33:00.000-07:002011-09-08T17:15:51.215-07:00

Our Changing Climate: Resources for students | ECOconnect blog | Washington State Department of EcologyBy Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality Programfrom the EPA website A Student's Guide to Global Climate ChangeDepending on where you live, the K-12 school year either is under way or preparing to start. So it makes sense to offer some kid-friendly climate change resources.First,

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-81345260971739466952011-09-02T08:38:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:43:04.340-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality Program President Obama has announced that he is pulling the plug on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to tighten the health-based standard for ozone emissions. EPA first announced plans to revise the standard in January 2010. But since then, a decision has been delayed repeatedly because of strong pushback from business,

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-59486794631650380802011-09-02T08:31:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:38:30.950-07:00

Diana Smith, Public Involvement Coordinator As part of the B&L Woodwaste landfill cleanup, a section of Interurban Trail in Milton will be closed September 6—9 from 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. The trail will be closed between Fife Way and I-5. Click to see a map of the area that will be closed. The trail is being closed so workers can build a temporary road for cleanup work at the landfill and wetlands

Diana Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04787900252685288932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-10893903700838503292011-09-01T20:43:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:25:53.769-07:00

BEACH Program Update Marine water sampling results indicate high bacteria levels at Bay View State Park in Skagit County. The beach will be posted with a swimming advisory on Friday, September 2, 2011. Follow up samples will be collected next week. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and

Julie Lowe Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121302313403906711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-48139499169203770102011-09-01T13:44:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:20:10.549-07:00

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program We try to highlight some of our Puget Sound work and Sound issues of interest in the “Around the Sound” blog series. But there’s a lot of cleanup work being done throughout the state by the Toxics Cleanup Program that is not connected to Puget Sound. So this new “Cleaning Up” series will attempt to provide some helpful information

Seth Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412454728843410871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-50159810182090891422011-09-01T09:51:00.000-07:002011-09-01T10:56:27.137-07:00

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program Do you know someone who might be interested in helping direct and guide ocean policy and management issues along Washington’s Pacific Coast? If so, Ecology is seeking nominations for membership on an advisory group for ocean policy. Advisory group will help State Ocean CaucusThe group will advise the State

Curt Hartnoreply@blogger.com0