1/31 Oil trains, BC coal, coal poll, Kitsap shore plan, Port Orchard shore

"Squirrely" (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Over the past year the landscape around our lower pond has been changing, thanks to Squirrelly, our resident Red squirrel. This species (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) doesn’t hibernate so needs to eat year-round. In the wild, a Red squirrel requires about 2 hectares of territory – making our property just about the right size for one squirrel with a healthy appetite....." Landscaping by Squirrelly  

An oil boom in the Midwest is laying the tracks for a major transportation hub in Washington. Crude is coming here by rail, pipeline and barge, and state agencies have a hard time keeping up with the pace. Activists have been worried about what proposed coal terminals would do to rail traffic in Washington state, but little attention has been paid to plans to transport. Washington State Ecology officials have been planning to publish a map showing increasing oil maps across the state. The problem is the new proposals are popping up so quickly they have to keep updating it. Crude oil is already rolling down rail lines through Tacoma and Seattle and more is on the way. Gary Chittim reports.  Oil boom bringing trainloads of crude oil through Washington   See also: Crude By Rail Public Meeting Sees Standing Room Only Crowd in Aberdeen  

Health leaders will continue to press Port Metro to conduct wider health-impact assessments of diesel exhaust and coal dust in the Lower Mainland after the go-ahead was given to an expanded coal terminal in North Vancouver. Port Metro says its review of Neptune’s $200-million expansion included health and environmental issues, but their jurisdiction does not extend beyond port boundaries. Critics say the wider implications of transporting coal through the Lower Mainland on open train cars have not been properly considered. Gordon Hoekstra reports. Health advocates continue fight for more study of expanded coal port

Coal-export terminals at Bellingham and Longview are supported by half of Washingtonians. At least according to the first comprehensive poll of public support for the controversial ports, released Wednesday. More than 400 households were polled for the survey, with a significant number of those polled still looking for more details on the plans. The Elway Poll announced similar though slightly less supportive results than polling in recent months by terminal supporters: Overall, 50 percent supported the export terminals, 32 percent were opposed and 19 percent undecided. Only 60 percent of responders knew about the proposals, and half of them knew no details. The most surprising result of the Elway Poll was respondents' support for a regional — rather than just localized — review of coal ports' impacts. Forty-eight percent were in favor, with 43 percent against. That's up sharply from a January poll for the pro-terminals group Alliance for Northwest Jobs & Exports, which found that 77 percent of Washingtonians opposed a regional review. Floyd McKay reports. Despite eco-gains, Washington's pulling for coal

After three years of planning and debate, the Kitsap County commissioners Wednesday put the finishing touches on a plan to govern shoreline development for years to come. If approved by the Washington Department of Ecology, the plan will impose a variety of regulations and mitigation measures to ensure that future development does not cause a net loss of ecological functions. The new Kitsap County Shoreline Master Program represents the first major overhaul of the county’s shoreline regulations in more than 30 years, according to shorelines planner David Greetham. The plan covers marine waters and shorelines up to 200 feet from the high-water mark, along lakes and major streams. Chris Dunagan reports.  Kitsap County commissioners adopt shorelines plan  

A flurry of construction activity on the waterfront heralds progress on long-planned recreational enhancements. Port Orchard and the Port of Bremerton are coordinating on much of the work. Chris Henry reports. Recent activity signals progress on Port Orchard waterfront projects

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST THU JAN 31 2013
TODAY
S WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT
NW WIND TO 10 KT IN THE EVENING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 7 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS
 IN THE EVENING.

--
"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