4/19 Polar bear Kenneth, quake faults, coal dust, whale maps, BC review, Jellies, Greg Rabourn, Alan Mearns, Mason Co., green-glow fish

R.I.P. Kenneth (The News Tribune)

Cliff Mass writes: "Hard to believe...three decent weekends in a row...and the upcoming weekend, might be the best for some of you." We Win the Spring Weekend Trifecta!

Kenneth, the oldest of four bears at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium was euthanized Wednesday after his right side became paralyzed and he could no longer stand or walk. He had lived there since 2002. Polar bear euthanized at Point Defiance Zoo

Geologists have discovered two previously unknown earthquake faults -- and possibly a third -- near Bellingham, Washington. The scientists working for the U.S. Geological Survey believe the shallow faults are capable of spawning damaging tremors.  Geologists Identify New Earthquake Faults Near Bellingham  

What's being described as an "absolute freak incident" at Westshore Terminals coal port Thursday afternoon caused a cloud of coal dust to briefly hover over the area. Unexpected wind gust stirs up coal dust at Roberts Bank  

If you like to watch: Check out the Vancouver Sun's Interactive map: cetacean sightings in B.C. over the last decade  

Environmental groups that don't have particular expertise to offer, and ordinary citizens concerned about projects like the Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline but who don't live or work near the project, shouldn't be able to participate in environmental review hearings, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Wednesday.  Oliver defends limiting participation to environmental review hearings  

Global warming, pollution and human activity in marine habitats are not generally regarded as good things — unless you’re a jellyfish. According to a study of the jellyfish population by University of B.C. researchers, jellyfish are increasing in the majority of the world’s coastal ecosystems. Jellyfish thrive in adverse conditions, UBC study finds  

In 1995, Greg Rabourn had what Evening Magazine dubbed the worst job in the region. He was one of four people employed by King County to sort through garbage at its then-three landfills, searching for hazardous material that needed to be pulled out of the trash and disposed of separately.... But for Rabourn, his stint as a trash-sorter had a silver lining. “That’s how I discovered Vashon,” he said during a recent interview.  Vashon's basin steward: Healing the region, one project at a time  

Alan Mearns is an ecological inquirer. He likes to ask questions, find connections and discover how things work in the natural world.  That has led him to a decade of observing and recording birds, right in his Edmonds back yard.  Edmonds scientist is a birdwatcher with purpose  

“The Mason County Commissioner’s meeting this morning was on the receiving end of some long standing and deserved frustration over lack of leadership and direction in handling water quality and sanitation issues.  These are symptoms of what is a pervasive inability to establish a proactive strategy to deal with growth and environmental pressure, and it’s time to get into the 21st century.... From the Puget Sound Partnership, to Department of Health, to other county governments, to our own citizenry, Mason County is regarded as a laughing stock of efficiency and effectiveness.  It can change, it must change.  If our commissioners do not feel up to shaking the trees to establish a new way of generating a new culture, then someone else needs to step in.” Carol Gardner editorializes: County and Commissioners  

Understanding the damage that pollution causes to both wildlife and human health is set to become much easier thanks to a new green-glowing zebrafish. Created by a team from the University of Exeter, the fish makes it easier than ever before to see where in the body environmental chemicals act and how they affect health. The fluorescent fish has shown that estrogenic chemicals, which are already linked to reproductive problems, impact on more parts of the body than previously thought. Green-Glowing Fish Provides New Insights Into Health Impacts of Pollution  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU APR 19 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY
SE WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING E 15 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT...BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 11 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO 7 FT AT 10 SECONDS. RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING W 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 10 SECONDS. RAIN.

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