6/21 Trainwatching, plankton blooms, Orca Sing, Vic sewage, BC LNG, Lummi quarry, WQ standards

Summer Solstice (nickNEWS)

New blog: Some of us remember the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-74 when the foreign oil we depend on was cut back, resulting in cars lining up for gas and higher prices at the pump. The embargo also prompted a law outlawing export of our domestic oil to foreign countries... Greased Rails for Oil and Coal

If you like to watch: Team members for Eyes Over Puget Sound, a Washington Department of Ecology program, were excited to discover and report on a second major plankton bloom during their flight this week. Chris Dunagan reports. Plankton bloom in Puget Sound: art on the water

Islanders and visitors will gather at Lime Kiln Point State Park to sing for our marine neighbors this Saturday, June 22. The Annual Orca Sing Concert brings friends, families, wildlife enthusiasts and musicians together for a celebration of the Salish Sea ecosystem and—hopefully—to see the orcas in person. “Whenever the whales go by, it’s the best,” Erin Corra says. Corra is the founder and program director of Friends of Lime Kiln Society (F.O.L.K.S.), a group of islanders dedicated to financially supporting one of our county’s most treasured historic parks.... “We want to keep the tradition alive, but this year we’re shifting from being ‘plugged’ to ‘unplugged’, so we’re just looking for local acoustic musicians,” Corra says. “It’s really just about keeping it local and low-key. We don’t need to amplify it.” Elwyn Pratt reports. New sound for ‘Orca Sing’

Esquimalt should not change its land-use rules to accommodate construction of a sewage plant at McLoughlin Point, says the group advising council on planning issues. The rezoning bid for the $210-million plant got an unvarnished rejection from all seven members of the advisory planning commission after a three-hour question-and-answer session with expert proponents from the Capital Regional District and CitySpaces Consulting on Tuesday. The advisory group cited shortcomings in the application by the Capital Regional District. Issues raised included safety during a tsunami, the impact on tourism and harbour views, potential First Nations land claims, smells and indifference to taxpayer feedback. Katherine Dedyna reports. Esquimalt planning advisers reject McLoughlin sewage plan

Exxon Mobil Corp. has jumped into the race to export liquefied natural gas from Canada’s west coast to Asia, with a huge proposal to process 30 million tonnes per year in Kitimat and Prince Rupert. Exxon and its Canadian arm, Imperial oil Ltd., filed an application Thursday with the National Energy Board for a licence to export the gas, putting it in competition with several plants planned by Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Chevron Corp., and Malaysia’s Petronas, which last year acquired Calgary-based Progress Energy as part of its Canadian gas strategy. Shawn McCarthy reports. Exxon, Imperial apply to export LNG from West Coast

The state has fined a Lummi Island rock quarry $10,300 for oil and fuel spilled in 2012 into Smuggler's Cove during the removal of two sunken barges. Pending a possible appeal of the fine, the state gets in line with creditors of the quarry's owner, Lummi Rock, LLC, and its operator, Aggregates West, Inc. Both businesses went into receivership this year - all of their assets were taken over by a firm charged with selling off those assets to pay the companies' debts. On top of the fine, the Department of Ecology billed Lummi Rock $2,668 to recoup the cost of the agency's responses to the spills. The quarry also must pay $3,943 for damages to the environment. Ralph Scwartz reports. Lummi Island quarry fined for oil spills, faces $10M debt

The state Department of Ecology is seeking public input as it works to set new standards for water quality and levels of allowable toxic pollution. The department is hosting a policy forum from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Yakima Convention Center, where people can watch and interact through a free webinar. The toxin standards that protect human health are based on a number of factors, including how much fish Washingtonians eat. Learn more about water quality standards and the rule-making process, and register for the webinar or call Becca Conklin at 360-407-6413.  Ecology seeks input on water standards  

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT FRI JUN 21 2013
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
SAT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SUN
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS.

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