6/20 Samish closure, munitions suit, Coal-Free, bag bans, BP fire, buoy plan, Discover Pass, border laws

Bells of Summer (Laurie MacBride)

Summer Solstice! Enjoy it while it’s here.

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: “One of the oddest looking plants in our garden, which is blooming right now, is Nectaroscordum (Nectaroscordum siculum var. bulgaricum, AKA Allium bulgaricum, Sicilian Honey Lily and Mediterranean Bells). For years I didn’t know any of its many names and simply called it ”ornamental onion” – imprecise for sure, but not incorrect. Nectaroscordum is indeed a member of the Allium (onion) family, a bulb native to southern France, Italy and Sicily.”  Umbrellas of Summer  

New blog: “Twenty years ago Washington and British Columbia activist organized themselves as the sans boundary coalition and faxed a declaration to the Rio summit, 1992....” Rio+20 and the Salish Sea  

The state Department of Health has again closed Samish Bay to shellfish harvesting after water testing showed high levels of pollution. The state had closed the bay to commercial and recreational shellfish harvest as a precaution June 17 because of high river flows and the associated risk of pollution. The state extended the closure when unsatisfactory levels of fecal coliform — caused by animal and human waste — were detected in water samples.  This week's closure is another of more than eight bay closures since March 1. Pollution closes Samish Bay — again  

A pair of anti-nuclear groups filed suit Tuesday to block impending construction of a second munitions wharf at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, a legal challenge they hope will help scrap the $715 million project altogether. The lawsuit contends the Navy failed to conduct proper environmental reviews and to consider viable alternatives to building a six-acre weapons-handling wharf over the sensitive waters of Hood Canal. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma by Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, of Poulsbo, Kitsap County, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, of Seattle. 2 groups sue to block Navy plans for second Bangor munitions wharf   

After Coal-Free Bellingham initiative backers turned in about 10,000 signatures for a ballot proposal that would outlaw coal trains in the city, the City Council voted to challenge the validity of the measure in court. On Monday, after getting a closed-door briefing from Assistant City Attorney James Erb, City Council voted 6-0 to authorize city attorneys to file a lawsuit challenging the initiative.  Bellingham council seeks court challenge on no-coal-train initiative See also: Spokane joins Seattle in questioning coal trains  

From small ethnic groceries to major chains, retail stores across Seattle are preparing for July 1, when a plastic-bag ban takes effect. With fewer than two weeks to go, many stores appear to be embracing the change, while some still are working out logistics.  Seattle retailers get handle on plastic-bag ban that starts July 1  See also: Bellingham prepares for Aug. 1 plastic bag ban   

BP says the Feb. 17 fire that shut down its Cherry Point oil refinery near Ferndale was caused by a pipe failure in the crude processing unit. The failure was a result of a corrosion problem, said Bill Kidd, spokesman at BP Cherry Point. BP: Pipe failure caused Feb. fire at Cherry Point refinery  

Next week the state Department of Natural Resources will present a revised map of where mooring buoys will be allowed in Vashon Island’s Quartermaster Harbor under the department’s proposed buoy plan. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at McMurray Middle School. DNR calls meeting for more feedback on buoy plan  

The state parks system is looking to ask lawmakers to make up for a shortfall in revenue from the pay-to-park Discover Pass. They gave the parks system $17 million in bridge funding, but after mid-2013, parks are due to be entirely dependent on user fees and donations. But with sales of the year-old pass falling short of original expectations, the Parks and Recreation Commission doesn’t want to let go of the lifeline from the state general fund.  State parks to seek money to cover pass sale shortfall  

The Republican-controlled House has approved a bill that would allow the Border Patrol to circumvent more than a dozen environmental laws on all federally managed lands within 100 miles of the borders with Mexico and Canada. Supporters said the measure approved Tuesday is needed to give border agents unfettered access to rugged lands now controlled by the Interior Department and Forest Service. House approves waiver of border environmental laws  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 232 AM PDT WED JUN 20 2012
TODAY
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to: msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told