7/3 Longview coal, Vancouver rocks, Kitimat pollution, herring, oysters, Vic sewage, Skagit water, oystercatchers

Celebrate a Safe 4th

Federal, state and Cowlitz County regulators have scheduled five public meetings across the state for the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminals coal dock west of Longview, the agencies announced Tuesday. Regulators said the meetings are part of the scoping process for the $643 million terminal. “Scoping” meetings are intended to identify factors and issues that should be analyzed to assess the environmental impact of the project. The meetings will be held in areas that may see an increase in rail traffic if coal is shipped to the terminal from Montana and Wyoming, according to regulators. Erik Olson reports. Schedule of public meetings over Longview coal terminal released

Thirty years ago Vancouver took the highly unusual and provocative step of declaring itself a “nuclear weapons-free zone,” following a few years later with the declaration its port, a regular stop for U.S. warships, is also nuke free. It helped fix in peoples’ minds the eccentricity of Vancouver as a city willing to sometimes overstep its jurisdiction in order to make a broader public point. Last month city council helped reinforce that view by declaring June 10 “Meatless Monday” as part of an effort to reduce the environmental and agricultural impact of world meat production. Nowadays Vancouver has lots of company from municipal governments that are either eager — or sometimes pushed — to weigh in on issues that have little to do with traditional municipal responsibilities. Jeff Lee reports. Metro Vancouver stands strong on environmental issues

Since well before the recent BC election, Premier Christy Clark has been touting the potential to develop a $1 trillion industry to export liquefied natural gas to Asia. But as companies start to line up with massive proposals, critics are taking aim at Clark’s government for not knowing how many facilities can be approved in Kitimat—a key export hub for LNG—before local air pollution from the energy-intensive plants significantly harms human health. Jonathan Fowlie reports. Air pollution a concern as Kitimat considers list of industrial projects

From the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound: Could recent declines in Puget Sound herring be linked to decreases in native eelgrass? Biologist Tessa Francis reports on a new study that may provide insight into the health of one of the region's most iconic forage fish. Notes from the field: Are Puget Sound herring limited by loss of eelgrass?

Oysters are considered an aphrodisiac, but what happens to them in hot weather isn’t so sexy. Warm air and water during summer make an ideal environment for a natural bacteria called vibrio parahaemolyticus to grow in oysters. Raw oysters, especially ones with the bacteria, can make people who eat them sick. Gina Cole reports. Raw oysters risky during warmer months   See also: Be vigilant about illness from tainted commercial shellfish, B.C. doctors told

As opposition grows to a sewage sludge facility in Esquimalt, residents near the next most likely location for the plant, Hartland landfill, say they don’t want sludge near their homes either. Willis Point residents are pushing back on building a biosolids facility at the landfill, saying it could leak and pollute the many local wells that are the only source of water for nearby homes. The plant would receive sludge that results from sewage treatment and convert it into fuel and fertilizer. Rob Shaw reports.  Hartland landfill neighbours wary of sludge plant   And: Hotel, stores, theatre would be allowed on sewage plant site in Esquimalt plan

Two years after the Carpenter-Fisher basin was closed to residential development, frustrated landowners are still searching for answers. Some of those landowners met with the state Department of Ecology Tuesday in the Skagit Public Utility District Aqua Room to talk about what progress the department is making that will allow them to build on their land in the tributary basin. The Carpenter-Fisher basin, south of Mount Vernon, closed in 2011 after Ecology determined too much residential development requiring groundwater wells had occurred. All construction requiring a well is prohibited. Kate Martin reports. No relief for landowners in closed creek basin  

Just this week while walking, we heard a desperate, high-pitched cry sounding over and over again. It seemed to be coming from Third Lagoon. It was impossible to ignore the unmistakable sound of a bird alerting just about the entire world of a clear and present danger. With our binoculars, we followed the persistent ruckus towards a small jutting of rocks just off shore. A black oystercatcher, with his long, spectacular neon beak, was poised on the rocky point. Below, on a smaller nearby rock surrounded by water, another oystercatcher sounded the alarm with a shrill. This must be Mr. and Mrs. Oystercatcher protecting the nest. They likely have perfected the communication between couples for some time, as this species is committed to family values and they mate loyally for as long as 20 years. Overhead, the sky appeared blue and calm. Then seemingly out of nowhere an immature bald eagle descended low over the rocks. With loud, operatically high-pitched squeals, one of the pair took flight and with apparent fearlessness pursued the eagle.... Peggy Butler writes. Island adventure: a cry at the lagoon

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 247 AM PDT WED JUL 3 2013
TODAY
W WIND 10 KT...BECOMING NW 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT...BUILDING TO 1 TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. SW
 SWELL 3 FT AT 14 SECONDS. PATCHY MORNING FOG.
TONIGHT
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 2 FT AFTER
 MIDNIGHT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 13 SECONDS.
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