2/20 BC CG, no coal exports, Nisqually boardwalk, oil and gas drill tax

Ms. Merganser (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Last week a female Hooded merganser dropped by spend some time in our garden pond. She and her mate usually come by once a year, around this time, but they’ve never stayed more than a few hours. This time Ms. Merganser came alone, and to our delight, stayed for two full days and two nights...." A Visit from Ms. Merganser  

The federal government has officially closed a Vancouver coast guard base that's considered to be the busiest in Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced Tuesday in a notice to mariners that the Kitsilano Canadian Coast Guard Station will no longer offer search-and-rescue services. The closure was announced last spring as part of budget cuts and drew widespread criticism, but local labour leaders were still caught off guard by the notice. Vancouver coast guard station officially closes

Two  Northwest political leaders,  speaking 180 miles apart, sharply criticized both the local impacts and global implications of the proposed creation of export terminals in Washington and Oregon that would move huge quantities of coal to China. Joel Connelly reports. Gov. Kitzhaber, Mayor McGinn: No to coal exports  

The $2.8 million boardwalk is waiting to lead you to the edge of Puget Sound at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The boardwalk opened in 2011 as mitigation for loss of recreation opportunities when a restoration project removed dikes to allow saltwater to re-establish a marsh at the wildlife refuge. Terry Richards reports. Nisqually boardwalk puts walkers atop Puget Sound mudflats with dry boots  

Should Washington tax the oil and natural gas coming out of its ground? The Washington state House Finance Committee held a public hearing on that concept Tuesday, specifically on a bill that would charge a 12 percent tax on the oil and gas pumped out of the Evergreen State's soil. So far, the state has produced little oil and natural gas, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon, said some exploratory drilling was conducted years ago in Eastern Washington, and exploratory drilling is underway for coal bed methane in Southwestern Washington. John Stang reports. Oil and gas: Tax now, drill later

Now, your tug weather--

WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST WED FEB 20 2013
TODAY
S WIND TO 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 14 SECONDS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN RAIN.
TONIGHT
SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT...EASING LATE. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE EVENING...THEN
 RAIN LIKELY.

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