1/12 Snow, BP barrel charge, bag ban, toxic ban, greenhouse gas map, oil pipe risks, hatcheries

BP Cherry Point (Bellingham Herald)

“The new forecast models are increasingly threatening for colder temperatures and lowland snow from Sunday through Wednesday of next week, although none of the forecast are ideal for a truly major event.  THUS THIS EVENT SHOULD NOT BE OVERHYPED!,” says Cliff Mass.  Increasing Threat of Snow  

Surprise! BP Cherry Point doesn’t like the governor’s proposed $1.50-per-barrel charge on Washington refineries to help pay for transportation improvements and maintenance because it will cost the company more than $100 million a year and not all of it can be passed on to customers. Worldwide, London-based BP reported $5 billion in net income in the third quarter of 2011.  Oil refineries balk at Gregoire's plan for transportation fees  

Good! “We are not opposed to moving away from plastic bags," testified Holly Chisa of the Northwest Grocery Association, which represents Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway and other grocery stores in the region . "My grocery stores, which are the larger grocery stores, believe that a bag is a bag and it is time to make the move.”  Major grocery stores support statewide ban on plastic bags

The environmental community has just one priority bill this session – a ban on toxic flame retardants in baby and children’s products. Senate Bill 6120 and House Bill 2266 – identical measures – would ban the use of two cancer-causing Tris flame retardants (TCDPP and TCEP) in baby products such as car seats, nursing pillows and portable cribs, beginning in July 2014. Toxic flame retardant ban environmental goal for session

The US Environmental Protection Agency yesterday unveiled a new website that identifies most of the nation's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases. EPA creates Website to ID biggest emitters of greenhouse gases  See also: EPA: Power Plants, Refineries Are Top NW  and EPA maps the worst greenhouse gas offenders

The first of two days of government hearings on the proposed Northern Gateway oil pipeline and shipment terminus at Kitimat drew testimony about why the forbidding geography of northern British Columbia stands to pose enough risks that the pipeline and tanker plan should be reconsidered. B.C. coast is hostile country for oil, pipeline panel told

A Victoria-based environmental group is under attack from a national group supporting Alberta oilsands development.  Dogwood spokeswoman Emma Gilchrist said the attack has backfired and galvanized support. "We have been absolutely inundated. The phone has been ringing off the hook," she said. "We've got 4,794 new unique signatures on our No Tankers petition in the last 72 hours and a surge in donations." Victoria-based anti-pipeline group defends its funding  

Rob Manning at EarthFix reports on this week’s discussion by a science panel, tribal representatives, and state officials about what hatcheries should be used for and what they should avoid. One thing that various officials and experts agree on: hatchery fish are not perfect replacements for wild fish. Thinking Outside The Pond: What’s The Best Role For Hatchery Fish?

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST THU JAN 12 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT IN THE MORNING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT OR LESS IN THE AFTERNOON. W SWELL 5 FT AT 14 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING.
TONIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 7 FT AT 13 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.

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