7/25 Coal tax, oil pipelines, Kitsap shores, septic rules, ShellFest, seabird drones

From losing to winning (AP)

New blog: Winning in Sports Isn’t Everything. It Is Everything.

If the Northwest is destined to become a major shipping route for coal exports to Asia, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott says mining companies ought to pay new taxes to help offset the cost of rail congestion, flying coal dust and other potential fallout. McDermott, a Seattle Democrat, is proposing to create a national "coal mitigation trust fund" by putting a $10 excise tax on every ton of mined coal.  McDermott urges tax to offset cost of shipping coal through Northwest  

Several hundred people turned out in Vancouver last night to protest plans for construction or expansion of oil pipelines crossing B.C.  Those attending the townhall meeting say they oppose the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline from Edmonton to Kitimat and expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline that crosses southern B.C. to a refinery in Burnaby. Hundreds turn up at Vancouver meeting to protest pipeline plans   And, columnist Vaughn Palmer writes, Political wrangling could bury oil pipeline for good   And, columnist Jack Knox writes, B.C. stance on oil pipeline...what's in it for us?  

Regulations to control rural shoreline development moved into a new arena Tuesday, when the Kitsap County Planning Commission launched into debate on the county's proposed Shoreline Master Program. During early deliberations, the planning commissioners seemed comfortable with the size of buffers and building setbacks recommended to them by county planners and a shorelines task force, which worked two years on the proposal.  County's shoreline protections under review  

A Whatcom County Health Department plan for tougher enforcement of regulations on the county's 28,000 private septic systems got a skeptical reception from some County Council members Tuesday, July 24. "This whole thing was overkill, as far as I'm concerned, from the start," council member Barbara Brenner said. "I don't want to hear more about enforcement."  Whatcom County Council skeptical on need for tougher septic tank rules  

Those who dig shellfish should go and check out ShellFest 2012 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 4 at Potlatch State Park in Mason County. The new event is part of Governor Chris Gregoire's Washington Shellfish Initiative aimed at restoring and protecting shellfish beds in Puget Sound.  ShellFest coming Aug. 4 at Potlatch State Park  

Wildlife officials plan to launch an unmanned aircraft on the Oregon coast. They hope the drone will allow them to monitor seabird populations on hard-to-reach rocky islands that serve as nesting grounds. The first trial begins Thursday at Haystack Rock near Pacific City. There scientists will attempt to launch the drone and photograph a colony of cormorants, birds which are accused of eating fledging salmon in large quantities. Jes Burns reports.  Unmanned Drone To Locate Salmon-Munching Birds

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED JUL 25 2012
TODAY
NW WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 8 SECONDS.

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