5/23 Low tides, coal big pic, BC coal, Vic sewage, Port Angeles cleanup

You can take advantage of very low tides this holiday weekend by getting a naturalist’s view of a largely unseen world. What can you find? Anemones, moon snails, clams and another slimy surprise or two. Volunteer naturalists will be wandering the beaches, teaching folks about the life-forms that make their home between the tides and about the challenges the animals face. Richard Seven reports. Explore sea life on shore at low tide

The state Department of Health has closed beaches in northern Whatcom County to recreational shellfish harvesting because of unsafe levels of the biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. The ban affects beaches from Point Whitehorn north to the Canadian border, including Point Roberts. Northern Whatcom County beaches closed to recreational shellfish harvesting  

Environmental groups and a public health organization want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider the big picture - from mining in Wyoming to air pollution in China - before allowing development of three Northwest ports to ship up to 100 million metric tons of coal a year to Asia. The groups filed a formal petition Wednesday asking the corps to consider all three ports together - two in Washington and one in Oregon - as well as the environmental and health effects of more coal mining, massive coal trains and greenhouse gas emissions. Jeff Barnard reports. Groups ask for big picture look at NW coal ports

Jeff Scott, president and CEO of Fraser Surrey Docks, needs to turn his business around and hopes a new $15-million coal transfer plan to ship four million tonnes of U.S. coal a year is the answer. Residents and environmentalists think it’s the wrong answer. Elaine O'Conner reports. Environmental groups oppose $15-million coal shipment plans; Surrey, Delta coal export plan faces opposition

Greater Victoria’s sewage treatment megaproject barrelled forward Wednesday after a closed-door meeting of regional politicians reaffirmed a tight new timeline that won’t wait for Esquimalt’s approval. The Capital Regional District board voted in-camera to push the project forward due to cost concerns, meaning it will put the proposed McLoughlin Point treatment plant out for construction bids before Esquimalt council has decided whether to rezone the land to allow a plant. Rob Shaw reports. Sewage plan plows ahead despite Esquimalt rebuke

The (Port Angeles) City Council has put its stamp of approval on two documents necessary for the cleanup of the western portion of Port Angeles Harbor. The agreed order and work plan for the cleanup process, approved Tuesday night by a 5-1 vote, with Councilman Max Mania opposed and Councilwoman Sissi Bruch recusing herself, formalizes how the city will work with four partners to develop a plan for studying and cleaning up industrial toxins from the bottom of the harbor’s west portion, City Attorney Bill Bloor said. The state Department of Ecology has named the city, the Port of Port Angeles, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Nippon Paper Industries USA and forest services company Merrill & Ring as at least partially responsible for cleaning up such contaminants as heavy metals that were found in the harbor during a 2008 Ecology study. Jeremy Schwartz reports. Port Angeles City Council puts stamp of approval on harbor cleanup plans

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU MAY 23 2013
TODAY
NE WIND TO 10 KT THIS MORNING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 10 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY THIS
 MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TSTMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SE AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY...
 THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

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