9/19 BC pipeline poll, shark fin ban, poaching, Swinomish dredge, Dockton cleanup, Sooke dam, Portland coal, Eugene plastic, Hood Canal

Deadly Encounter (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "In an unusual kayaking experience this summer, we saw first-hand just how “red in tooth and claw” Mother Nature can be. We were watching a bald eagle being pursued by seagulls – a common sight on the west coast – when, with a sudden swoop, the eagle snatched a gull out of the air and made off with it, landing on a nearby islet..."   Gull on the Menu  

The possibility of more crude oil pipelines and oil tankers in B.C. ranks second only to the economy as the most important issue facing the province, according to a new poll of British Columbians living near a proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion route. The telephone survey last month by the polling firm Strategic Communications involved 600 respondents in 19 of B.C.’s 36 ridings representing about 60 per cent of the population. The poll put pipelines/tankers slightly behind the economy and ahead of health care among the list of issues mentioned first among the “most important” issues facing the province.  Oil pipelines a top concern for B.C. residents: poll    See also: Opposition to Trans Mountain pipeline nearing Northern Gateway levels  

The City of Vancouver will work with neighbouring municipalities to develop a ban on the sale of shark-fin products, mayor and council agreed Tuesday. “This is not an attack on culture,” said Coun. Kerry Jang, who proposed the idea of a joint ban with Richmond and Burnaby on the controversial delicacy.  Vancouver council makes 'historic' move toward shark fin ban

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife agents have conducted 14 raids around the state in a series of poaching investigations, and they say dozens of people could face charges. The deputy chief of operations for Fish and Wildlife Police, Mike Cenci, says investigators are looking to speak with roughly 75 potential suspects. They range from what he describes as "the hardcore poacher who just wants to see stuff die" to the drug addict feeding a habit and restaurant owners who wanted cut-rate fish, deer or elk. Poaching raids conducted statewide; dozens could face charges  

After years working to secure funding and attention from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Swinomish Channel, many involved in the effort celebrated the start of construction with a kickoff event Tuesday morning at the Port of Skagit’s La Conner Marina. The project was awarded $2.2 million from a federal fund of $30 million for low-use navigation projects on the nation’s waterways.  Mark Stayton reports. Swinomish Channel dredging kicks off

The state Department of Ecology will be at Dockton Park this week as part of anther round of park cleanups to remove arsenic- and lead-contaminated soils from play areas. Dockton is one of seven parks in the King and Pierce county area that the state has targeted for cleanup.  Cleanup to take place at Dockton Park  

A small dam on a productive salmon stream near Sooke will be bulldozed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada next year despite fears that this could wipe out the coho run. "We are moving ahead with decommissioning, but it's too late in the season to do it this year," said Dan Bate, DFO spokesman. "The reservoir has now been drained, so whether or not the structure is in place doesn't make much difference," he said.  Dam removal could end salmon run, critics say

Portland is exploring its power to regulate the coal industry as the business looks to expand in the Northwest. If the city council passes a resolution currently under consideration, it would join the ranks of at least twenty local governments that have passed similar resolutions. April Baer reports. Portland Joins Other NW Cities Questioning Coal Trains  

A provocative new study suggests a connection between the BPA chemical used in food packaging and childhood obesity, but the researchers say their findings don't prove it's the cause. While most people have traces of the plastics chemical in their bodies, the study found that children with the highest levels in their urine were twice as likely to be obese as those with the lowest. There are other factors that could explain the results, and many reasons why children gain too much weight, the researchers said.  Mike Stobbe reports. Study suggests tie between BPA and child obesity    And Watch out: Half of Washington residents could be obese  

Eugene might become the third Oregon city to ban plastic bags, but environmentalists hope to eventually get rid of the paper ones, too. Sarah Higginbotham of Environment Oregon said her No. 1 goal is to get people to use reusable bags. She and representatives from other environmental groups spoke at a press conference Monday evening before the City Council held a public hearing on the proposed plastic-bag ban.  Eugene Considers Banning Plastic Bags  

In case you missed Christopher Dunagan’s account yesterday of the Hood Canal study, here’s Craig Welch’s report: The most comprehensive review ever of existing research on Hood Canal has concluded that septic systems aren't a leading cause of the massive fish kills that have hit the hooked fjord over the years.  Review of science lets people off the hook for Hood Canal fish kills  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED SEP 19 2012
TODAY
NW WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.

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