5/8 B'ham coal, RFK Jr. on coal, Lolita, Shell protest, Manette sewage, cruise ships, BC parks

Sorry, Lolita

New blog: Last week the Waikiki hotels were running at near capacity, thanks to a convention of orthodontists and a horde of visitors from Japan. Travel Notes: Orthodontists, Golden Week and a Part of Town Called Kaimuki  

Getting coal trains to and from a proposed Cherry Point export pier would require construction of a long rail siding that could eliminate Boulevard Park vehicle access and cause other waterfront disruptions in the city.  That was the key finding in a report prepared by Transit Safety Management, a large railroad consulting firm that has worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation and public agencies in a number of states and countries.  Coal trains for Cherry Point terminal would require more rails, limit access to Boulevard Park

Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says a proposal to bring coal to Oregon and Washington state will lead to political corruption and environmental damage, while the actual number of jobs it will create is minimal. Kennedy led a rally in Portland on Monday, where he advocated against the proposal to bring coal from Wyoming and Montana to ports in Oregon and Washington, where it would be exported to China.   RFK Jr. calls coal 'corrupting' at Portland rally

 A federal judge in Tacoma, Wash., has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at freeing the killer whale Lolita from captivity at Miami Seaquarium. Judge Benjamin H. Settle last week ruled that orca activists who sued the federal government didn't give proper notice and failed to state a valid claim. He granted motions by the government and Seaquarium to dismiss the case. Judge dismisses suit to free Lolita from captivity at Miami Seaquarium   

About 50 people marched to the Shell Puget Sound Refinery last Friday morning to protest the refining of tar sands oil and send a message that Puget Sound and the rest of the environment are at risk. Marchers protest tar sands oil refining at Shell

A sewage spill at the northwest end of the Manette Bridge has triggered a four-day health advisory issued by the Kitsap Public Health District. The city was notified of the spill Sunday by a resident of the area. The city tracked the problem and notified the health district Monday. Residents said the spill might have been going on for several days before it was reported, and as much as 50,000 gallons of raw sewage might have spilled onto the beach and drained into the water. Sewage overflows near Manette Bridge  

The number of cruise ships sailing to Alaska from Seattle remains down from the peak of two years ago.  In 2010, 223 ships made the trip.  This year, 202 ships will sail from Seattle.  It's a slight uptick from last year when 196 ships used Seattle as a homeport during the summer Alaska cruising season.  Cruise ships sailing from Seattle to Alaska down from 2010 peak  

More than 550,000 hectares will be added to the province's parks and protected areas system under legislation introduced Monday, the Ministry of Environment announced. A key part of Bill 49, the Protected Areas of B.C. Amendment Act, will add more than 413,000 hectares in northwestern B.C. by establishing 10 new conservancies and adding land to existing Atlin Provincial Park. On Haida Gwaii, the bill will add 166,000 hectares of marine foreshore area to nine existing conservancies and add 611 hectares of land to five existing conservancies.  B.C. adds 550,000 hectares to provincial parks, but also deletes some  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 847 PM PDT MON MAY 7 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT
TUE
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT...RISING TO 15 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT...BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TUE NIGHT
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 7
 FT AT 9 SECONDS.

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