6/7 Orca health, Fisheries Act, Billy Frank, coal port, GEMS, 3 Crabs, Kimberly-Clark, shoreline rules, Tani Cr., gasoline production

Orphan orca Springer welcomed home, 2002 (NOAA)

Not having enough Chinook salmon to eat stresses out southern resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest more than having boatloads of whale watchers nearby, according to hormone levels of whales summering in the Salish Sea. In lean times, however, the stress level normally associated with boats becomes more pronounced, further underscoring the importance of having enough prey, according to Katherine Ayres, an environmental and pet-behavior consultant who led the research while a University of Washington doctoral student in biology. Ayres is lead author of a paper appearing online June 6, in the journal PLoS ONE. Too Few Salmon Is Far Worse Than Too Many Boats for Killer Whales  

Springer was an underweight, sickly killer whale calf when she turned up alone in Puget Sound a decade ago and it seemed the chances of successfully reuniting her with her pod on northern Vancouver Island were slim. But, this month, celebrations are being held in Seattle and Vancouver, with a reunion at Telegraph Cove in July, marking the 10th anniversary of Springer's unique rescue, which saw the orphaned whale brought back to health, transported to northern Vancouver Island and released as members of her pod swam through Johnstone Strait. 10 years later, Springer the killer whale still defies the odds; Sickly orca was rescued and reunited with family - now celebrants await her return, perhaps as a mom   

While farmers and municipalities would like to see some flexibility, they worry the Harper government's omnibus legislation goes too far. Larry Pynn reports in Part 3 of the series. Stakeholders wary of slippery slope that comes with changes to Fisheries Act  

Billy Frank Jr. speaks for the salmon. He always has and he always will. The message delivered by one of the most famous Indians in Washington history rings loud and clear through a new biography released this week entitled “Where the Salmon Run, The Life and Legacy of Billy Frank Jr.” The book authored by Trova Heffernan is the 13th in a series of oral histories and biographies by the Legacy Project housed in the Office of the Secretary of State. Voice for salmon heard again  

The Whatcom County Council has approved a modified version of an environmental consulting contract for the Gateway Pacific Terminal project that mandates an expanded public comment period at the first stage of the regulatory process. The council unanimously agreed to specify a minimum of 120 days for public comment on the scope of the environmental study. Whatcom County mandates extended comment on coal terminal study   Also see Survey: 46% of Oregon voters favor coal export  

The old red cannery building along Guemes Channel is for sale.  Plans by local developer GEMS LLC to build a restaurant, hotel and marina at the site have not moved forward since 2010. A listing for the light manufacturing-zoned property appeared on the Commercial Brokers Association Web site recently. The asking price —for the old red cannery, surrounding waterfront and three nearby houses — is nearly $5 million. The buyer will also receive plans and reports with the option to continue a development plan GEMS began when it purchased the property for $1.7 million in 2006, according to the listing. Cannery building for sale; GEMS backs off waterfront hotel, restaurant plans  

The building that has long housed The 3 Crabs restaurant would be removed under a proposed state Fish and Wildlife purchase of the Dungeness Bay landmark location.The state Fish and Wildlife Commission last week approved the $1 million purchase of the nearly 52 acres of land and tideland property along Dungeness Bay's shores overlooking New Dungeness Lighthouse 3 Crabs site would be razed after state buy, proposal says

Kimberly-Clark may begin demolishing its mill site on the waterfront as early as next month, a company spokesman says.  Kimberly-Clark also is considering imploding some of the buildings, but company officials haven't made a decision. K-C mill set for demolition as early as July  

Property rights and protections for shoreline environments were the primary topics at a hearing Tuesday night focused on the proposed Kitsap County Shorelines Master Program. Bob Benze of the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners said the county's proposed shoreline buffers are unjustified by studies that have examined the effects of development on shorelines. In fact, he said, saltwater habitat near developed properties is just as healthy as habitat near undeveloped properties. Shorelines plan undergoes public review

The San Juan County Council Tuesday agreed with a staff recommendation to send the draft Shoreline Master Program’s Inventory and Characterization Report back to the consultants who compiled it for revisions.  County Senior Planner Colin Maycock told the Council that, after a review of the draft by the Council-appointed Shoreline Master Program Technical Advisory Committee and county staff, it was apparent further revisions were needed.  Maycock characterized the expected changes as significant, most pertaining to the analytical framework used to describe and characterize the shoreline’s geology and associated ecological activities. A new five-week public comment period on the report will begin after the revisions are complete.  Council backs revision of shoreline inventory report  

The Kitsap Public Health District has suspended the "No Contact" advisory for Blakely Harbor and Tani Creek that was issued last month after a sewage spill made it into the headwaters of Tani Creek. The advisory was lifted Tuesday, and the warning signs that were posted at local public access areas have been removed, health officials said.  'No Contact' warning lifted for Tani Creek and Blakely Harbor  

West Coast oil refiners cut gasoline production after a fire earlier this year at the BP Cherry Point refinery, creating a supply shortage that has left West Coast motorists paying very high gas prices at a time when the rest of the nation is seeing prices plunge, according to an influential senator and a veteran energy analyst. In a letter being sent to regulators on Thursday, June 7, and obtained by McClatchy, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., calls on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate refinery operators Alon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Tesoro and BP following the shutdown of BP's Cherry Point refinery near Ferndale.  Cantwell seeks probe of West Coast gas prices after Cherry Point fire  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU JUN 7 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. SW SWELL 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS. RAIN THIS MORNING... THEN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SE 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
 SHOWERS.

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