1/10 Trident wharf, Langley whales, Pt Angeles science, geoducks, BC cougars, ravens, Bayview Ridge, BPA risks

Das Boot USS Nebraska

Judge rejects suit to halt dock addition at Trident base
A federal judge in Tacoma has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction of a nuclear-missile handling wharf at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, clearing the way for the contested $650 million Pentagon project to proceed. The ruling Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Leighton emphatically rejected every major argument by a group of anti-nuclear activists, who contended the Navy withheld required public information and failed to consider alternatives to building a new munitions wharf.... Leighton said any information the Navy kept from the public during its environmental-impact-review process was justifiably exempt, and that the plaintiffs were seeking “release (of) information detrimental to national security.” Kyung M. Song reports.

Langley welcomes whales/tourists with new center
Hoping to boost tourism, Langley leaders have plans to lure people to town with a new whale-watching center. At the Langley City Council meeting Monday, Fred Lundahl said a lease has been signed and $5,000 doled out to pay for startup costs. The center, essentially a museum for Puget Sound whales, will be located on the corner of Second Street and Anthes Avenue in the building — owned by former mayor Paul Samuelson — that houses the Langley Main Street Association. The organization provided the seed money for the new whale center in the hopes of bringing people into Langley, adding yet another draw for the Village by the Sea. Ben Watanabe reports.

Oak Street property eyed for marine science, conference center in Port Angeles
The long-dormant downtown Front and Oak streets waterfront property is being eyed as the site of a new, 63,000-67,000-square-foot, two-building marine science and conference center with additional space for retail activity. Alaska-based Neeser Construction Inc. has made an offer on Olympic Lodge owner Tod McClaskey Jr.’s property... The 1.96-acre waterfront site — a former log yard — could be the new home for the Feiro Marine Life Center and a 5,800-square-foot shared conference center, said Deborah Moriarty, director of the center now housed in a city-owned building on City Pier. Paul Gottlieb and Arwyn Rice report.

Geoducks test OK, but what’s behind Chinese ban?
Now it is up to Chinese officials to decide upon shellfish imports to their country, as uncomfortable as that may be for U.S exporters. I’ve begun to learn about international trade policies to better understand the confusing actions of Chinese health authorities. Chris Dunagan blogs on the intricacies of international trade warfare.

Cougar family snapped strolling Sunshine Coast beach  
 A couple living on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. caught a rare glimpse of three fully-grown cougars strolling together on a beach one morning last week. Greg and Mary Carter glanced out the window of their waterfront property in Roberts Creek and spotted the cats travelling west along Flume Beach — about 45 metres from their house.

Power line nests put US ravens in pole position for prey
Ravens in the US are building their nests on electricity power lines and using the height to target their prey, according to new research. The scientists say the majority of ravens in the study area were now living on transmission poles and posed a bigger threat to endangered species. Raven numbers in western states have increased by more than 300% in the past 40 years, say the researchers. The study is published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications. Matt McGrath reports.

The end for Bayview Ridge?
Skagit County’s 17-year effort to plan for 5,600 new residents at Bayview Ridge faces yet another hurdle Friday even before the county approves the project. The plan has hit other major roadblocks in the past few months. The additional residents would create a need for a new school. But recently-expanded airport traffic zones effectively eliminated any potential school sites. Business growth in the county has created more demand for industrial land around the airport. On Friday, the Port of Skagit will consider a resolution that recommends Skagit County adopt the expanded air traffic safety overlay zones recommended by the state Department of Transportation. Those expanded zones would render about 30 to 40 percent of the land proposed for Bayview Ridge residential development unusable for housing. Rachel Lerman and Kera Wanielista report.

BPA Increases Risk of Cancer in Human Prostate Tissue, Study Shows
Fetal exposure to a commonly used plasticizer found in products such as water bottles, soup can liners and paper receipts can increase the risk for prostate cancer later in life, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago published Jan. 7 online in the journal Endocrinology. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is widely used to soften plastics. Steering clear of the chemical is nearly impossible, says Gail Prins, professor of physiology at UIC and lead author of the paper.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-
FRI
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING S IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 10 FT AT 13 SECONDS...BUILDING TO 12 FT
 AT 14 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON.
FRI NIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SW 25 TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. COMBINED SEAS 11 TO 13 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF
 15 SECONDS.
SAT
W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 19 FT.
SUN
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 15 FT.

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