12/13 Coal meets, coal train costs, tanker spill costs, Lk Terrell salmon, water rule, impact fees, Columbia/Snake R. salmon

December sunset

Cliff Mass writes: "It has been very, very dark around here lately. Darkest Before the Dawn

About 700 people gathered Wednesday night to comment on a coal export terminal that could be built near Bellingham, Wash. The people who oppose the Gateway Pacific coal export terminal greatly outnumbered those who favor the plan. Earlier hearings held in towns closer to the proposed terminal drew a more even mix of supporters and opponents. Bonnie Stewart reports. Coal Export Opponents Dominate Vancouver Hearing   And: The fight over coal trains in the Pacific Northwest pulls into Seattle on Thursday. Craig Welch reports. Big turnout expected for coal-transport project hearing

It's shaping up to be one of the most controversial proposals in Washington state, pitting some labor unions against environmentalists. The dispute involves a plan to ship U.S. coal to Asian markets from Northwest ports, bringing up to 18 coal trains per day through Seattle and other Puget Sound cities. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn on Wednesday said he is commissioning a study on the economic impact of the trains. McGinn said he wants to know if more coal trains will block freight traffic to and from the Port of Seattle. "If local manufacturers can't transport their goods, these are impacts we have to look at," McGinn said. Linda Brill reports. McGinn orders economic review of coal train proposal

A new study says the cost of cleaning up a major oil spill on the North Coast of B.C. could hit $9.6 billion, wiping out any economic benefits from the Northern Gateway Pipeline project for the region. The UBC study was sponsored by the World Wildlife Federation and conducted by Prof. Rashid Sumaila, the director of the UBC Fisheries Centre and UBC fisheries economist Ngaio Hotte. Sumaila said the figures show how a major tanker spill off the coast of northern British Columbia could offset any potential economic gains from the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project. West Coast oil tanker spill clean-up could cost $9.6B  

A project that replaced a small dam at Lake Terrell and restored a creek channel has allowed salmon to swim into Lake Terrell for the first time in 62 years. The $150,000 effort on the north end of the lake was a partnership of Whatcom Conservation District and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife also was involved. Completed at the end of September, the project included replacing a 7-foot-tall concrete dam that was installed in 1950 to enlarge the lake west of Ferndale for recreational purposes. Kie Relyea reports. Work on Lake Terrell opens passage for salmon for first time since 1950

For the second time in as many weeks, Clallam County commissioners have postponed a vote on a memorandum of understanding with the state Department of Ecology over implementation of the Dungeness water rule. Commissioner Mike Doherty initially voted against the memorandum, a four-page document that states that the county and Ecology will work together to establish a rule intended to protect existing water rights and water supplies for people and fish. Doherty repeatedly said he is in favor of having a rule. “It’s the details [that are missing from the rule],” he said. Rob Ollikainen reports. Contentious board holds off on water rule memo

Olympic Property Group has agreed to pay up to $180,000 for a consultant to study environmental impacts related to the redevelopment of Port Gamble. Plans to revive the historic town are expected to be submitted in January, according to Jon Rose of the company. Preliminary plans call for building 176 new homes at historical densities and similar to the renovated houses on the townsite today. A 100-room "lodge" and a restaurant are proposed on the waterfront, along with a dock for tourist boats. Chris Dunagan reports. Consultant hired for Port Gamble study  

Thurston County will begin assessing impact fees on new developments, including houses and businesses, in April. The fees will pay for upgrades to roads, schools and parks, said Scott Clark, county planning director. The county commissioners adopted an ordinance Tuesday giving staff the go-ahead for the fees. The fees will replace the State Environmental Policy Act mitigation fees that the county had used. The SEPA fees were subject to deliberation processes, and they could  be used to fund only projects in the vicinity of the development or home being built. Impact fee funds can be used countywide. Chelsea Krotzer reports. Thurston County to begin impact fees for new projects in April

The Obama administration wants two neutral, university-based environmental mediators to tackle the 20-year impasse over restoring Columbia and Snake River salmon runs by doing a “situation assessment” and hearing out the river system’s irrigators, grain producers, barge operators, ports, greens, fisheries interests, tribes and other “stakeholders.” It’s a move born out of failure and frustration.  Successive administrations have produced five “biological opinions” on how to improve once-mighty, now-imperiled salmon populations in the Columbia River system — particularly salmon runs that spawn far up the Snake River in Idaho. Joel Connelly reports. Feds: New move to break Columbia River salmon impasse

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 250 AM PST THU DEC 13 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 10 FT AT 13 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS. AREAS OF MORNING
 FOG. RAIN LIKELY.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 10 SECONDS. RAIN.

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