1/20 Mud, MLK, SPU, BC pipe, Cherry Pt coal, Sliver Cr, BC enviro ed, GMO salmon, state parks, derelict ships

American avocet and chick (PHOTO: Ingrid Taylar)

Why Mud Matters: Chatting with Geomorphologist Jeremy Lowe
Jeremy Lowe is serious about mud. We caught up with the senior scientist from San Francisco-based environmental planning firm ESA to discuss why lowly mud and sediment are critical pieces of Bay habitat — and why we should worry about a world without them . Beth Slatkin reports.

New blog: MLK Day and the Way to Win
"We’re celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day again this year and I’m happy that Scott Miller, who runs the environmental communications consultant group Resource Media, addressed the issue of real diversity in the environmental movement in a thoughtful blog last week, Changing with the times..."

SPU's plan to get Seattle out of deep sh*t
Last year, Seattle spilled more than 154 million gallons of stormwater and untreated sewage into our lakes and streams. SPU plans to fix that. Martha Baskin reports.

Northern Gateway pipeline report draws lawsuit
A coalition of environment groups has filed a lawsuit in Federal Court alleging serious flaws with the Joint Review Panel's final report that recommended the pipeline be approved because “Canadians will be better off with this project than without it.” The group is seeking a court order to prevent the federal cabinet from acting on the panel's report to approve the proposed pipeline. Ecojustice lawyers representing ForestEthics Advocacy, the Living Oceans Society and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation allege the Joint Review Panel's 419-page report contains legal errors and that its approval is based on insufficient evidence. See also: Neil Young's anti-oilsands tour draws fierce reaction in Calgary


Cherry Point coal port study process remains on hold
Almost six months after regulatory agencies made their decision on the scope of environmental study for a proposed Whatcom County coal export terminal at Cherry Point, the study process itself has yet to begin. Tyler Schroeder, Whatcom County planning manager, said the work on the first draft of the wide-ranging environmental impact statement for the Gateway Pacific Terminal won't start until the companies proposing the coal project sign off on a contract they are now reviewing. John Stark reports.

Coal spill feared a risk to aquatic life in Burnaby's Silver Creek
John Preissl can hardly believe his eyes. The Burnaby resident and amateur nature photographer walks the shoreline of Burnaby Lake pretty much every day and is disturbed to see that sediments and coal have created a small island at the mouth of Silver Creek where endangered western painted turtles are hibernating. A set of logs utilized by the turtles outside of winter sits beached on the new island. “This is brand new, never been here,” the 51-year-old painter and finish carpenter remarks. “It’s sad. It shocks me. The turtles are right underneath, wintering in the mud.” A Canadian Pacific train operated by a Canadian National crew on CN tracks derailed a week ago Saturday just north of Burnaby Lake, spilling metallurgical coal into rain-swollen Silver Creek. Larry Pynn reports.

New B.C. curriculum eroding environmental education, critics fear
Critics fear that environmental education could be losing its place as a prime topic of study in B.C. schools. And that’s especially bad at a time when issues like sewage, Alberta oilsands and pipelines are front-and-centre, said elementary-school teacher Lenny Ross. Ross, who teaches at Strawberry Vale Elementary School and helps organize environmental-education programs throughout the Greater Victoria school district, is part of a grassroots effort to ensure the importance of the environment is retained during the ongoing review of the curriculum. Jeff Bell reports.

House panel hears debate on modified salmon
Last year’s ballot battle over genetically modified food got a rerun in a legislative committee Friday as some fishing groups called for a ban on re-engineered salmon and others said the idea was unnecessary fear-mongering. The House Agriculture Committee considered but did not vote on HB 214, which would also require any genetically modified salmon sold in Washington stores to be labeled. Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, the bill’s sponsor, said it was narrower than Initiative 522, which would have required many genetically modified foods to be labeled if it passed last year. It failed but got about 49 percent of the vote. Jim Camden reports.

Ads in state parks explored
Washington officials are looking to end the ban on commercial advertising in state parks in hopes of generating much-needed dollars for the cash-strapped agency. But visitors won’t be subjected to gaudy displays of corporate logos anytime soon, insist lawmakers and leaders of state parks. House and Senate bills introduced this week aim to generate revenue from advertising on the agency website and expanded private investment in Washington’s 117 parks, plus a like number of undeveloped properties. Jerry Cornfield reports.

Rep. Hansen proposes new bill to safeguard waterways and protect marine jobs by cleaning up derelict vessels
Rep. Drew Hansen of Bainbridge Island is sponsoring a new bill to further fight the problem of derelict and abandoned boats in the waters of Washington state... Hansen worked over the summer with Rep. Norma Smith, a Whidbey Island Republican, on the bipartisan proposal to speed up the removal of derelict vessels. The bill also aims to increase accountability for owners of high-risk boats and encourage boat owners to dispose of vessels safely. n the 2013 legislative session, Hansen successfully helped to author and push a bill to protect jobs in the marine industries by strengthening the state’s derelict vessel program. That measure, House Bill 1245, was approved last year with overwhelming bipartisan support. Hansen’s follow-up proposal, House Bill 2457, would go further to address the problem. It focuses on the bigger, older vessels that are most likely to decay and become derelict.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST MON JAN 20 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 17 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 18 SECONDS.
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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

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1/17 Sea level rise, orca habitat, Wild Olympics, counting fish, Ecology on coal, Lacey bag ban

"Islands of Seattle" (Jeff Linn)

If all ice sheets melted, would your neighborhood be under water?
If you’ve ever wondered how your house or apartment would fare if the Earth was immediately and improbably inundated by the simultaneous melting of all the world’s ice sheets, Jeff Linn has an answer for you. The University of Washington planner has created a map showing what Seattle would look like if the sea level rose by 240 feet — the estimated amount it would rise if all the world’s ice sheets melted. Katherine Long blogs. Ha, ha: And if everyone flushed their toilets at once, would the Salish Sea overflow?

Group Calls For Expanding Killer Whale Habitat Protection
An environmental group is calling for a major expansion in habitat protection for Puget Sound’s killer whales. Research shows the endangered orcas that live in Puget Sound in the summer are venturing up and down the West Coast in the winter to forage for food. Scientists tracking these southern resident orcas have followed the whales as far north as Alaska and as far south as Monterey, Calif. Given these findings, the Center for Biological Diversity says the whales need a lot more habitat protection than they have now. The group filed a petition Thursday with the National Marine Fisheries Service to expand protected habitat for the whales from Puget Sound to a large swath of ocean area off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Cassandra Profita reports.

Kilmer, Murray to introduce new version of Wild Olympics bill today
A new version of Wild Olympics legislation will be introduced today by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2014, also known as Wild Olympics legislation, contains wilderness protection measures that were jointly introduced in 2012 by Murray, D-Bothell, and former U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, Kilmer's 6th Congressional District predecessor... The new legislation, like the original bill, would ban logging on 126,554 acres of the 633,000-acre Olympic National Forest. Paul Gottlieb reports. See: POINT OF VIEW: In his own words, Kilmer explains why he's backing wilderness legislation

Researchers Detect and 'Count' Fish From Just A Glass Of Water
It's not something we often think about, but as we go about daily life, we're constantly shedding little flakes of skin. So are animals and fish. This fact now makes it possible to estimate which species are most plentiful in a lake or bay. University of Washington professor Ryan Kelly is jazzed. "This is about the coolest project I have been involved in,” Kelly said. That's because Kelly's research team could detect and count with just a glass of seawater the species of fish swimming around nearby. Tom Banse reports.

Senate Panel Questions Ecology On Review Of Coal Terminal
Washington’s top environmental regulator found herself in the hot seat Thursday during a state Senate hearing called by Republican lawmakers who disapprove her agency’s scrutiny of a coal export terminal proposed for the northern shore of Puget Sound. At issue: greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Ecology caused a stir last year when it announced that it would consider the greenhouse gas emissions produced when 48 million tons of exported coal is burned in Asia – that’s how much coal would move through the Gateway Pacific Terminal every year. Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, convened a work session to question Ecology officials, including director Maia Bellon, about its move. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Data show Lacey residents support bag ban
The Lacey City Council on Thursday night weighed the results of a public outreach campaign tied to a proposed plastic bag ban, and the subsequent discussion revealed a divided council: Some want the issue to go to a vote of the people, while others said it is time the council showed some leadership and voted on the issue themselves. Thursday’s meeting was a council work session, but the council is set to consider the proposed ban of single-use plastic bags during a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 23.... In addition, comment cards were mailed to 15,000 utility customers within the city limits. That data was compiled and presented to the council on Thursday, showing the city received 1,276 responses. More than 50 percent – 51.49 percent – are in favor of the ban, while 44.44 percent are against it, with 4.08 percent still undecided. Rolf Boone reports.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST FRI JAN 17 2014
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON
 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY
E WIND 25 TO 35 KT...EASING TO 15 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS 5 TO 8 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 15
 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT OR LESS AFTER MIDNIGHT. W
 SWELL 4 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
SAT
E WIND 10 KT...BECOMING VARIABLE IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 16 SECONDS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE
 AFTERNOON.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND 10 KT...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 7 FT AT 16 SECONDS.
SUN AND SUN NIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 16 SECONDS.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

1/16 Oil tax loophole, BC fishfarms, derelict boats, B'ham Bay, Rock Bay, Sochi orcas, Bristol Bay, radioactive fish

Maple in the midden (Laurie MacBride)

If you like to watch: A Salty Surprise: the Midden Maple
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "This Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) stands on the beach – below the highwater mark – in Montague Harbour Marine Park on Galiano Island. It’s an unusual setting for a large tree: Bigleaf maples often grow alongside streams, but that’s fresh water. This one must endure having its roots bathed in salt water with every day’s high tide..."

And if your really like to watch: Elephant Seal Pup Born at Race Rocks

Upcoming: Ways of Whales Workshop, Sat. Jan. 25, Coupeville
"Saving Iconic Pacific Northwest Species -  Southern Resident Orcas and Salmon" is the theme and the workshop will end with a panel discussion on salmon and Southern Resident orca recovery actions. Register at Orca Network. 

Enviro Groups Urge Lawmakers To Close Tax Loophole Benefiting Oil Companies
More than 20 environmental groups have joined together with a common priority this short legislative session: close what they say is a huge loophole benefiting big oil companies. The Environmental Priorities Coalition includes big names like the Sierra Club, American Rivers, Fuse and the Cascade Bicycle Club. They don’t always see eye to eye on things, but when it comes to oil companies and the state tax structure, they’re all sure something’s not quite right. “There’s no economic argument for this tax exemption and preferential rate, in any way,” said Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, the prime sponsor of a bill that would close the state’s biggest-ever tax loopholes. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. And: WA Environmental Groups’ Legislative Focus: Oil Trains

B.C. fish farmers see opportunity as DFO lifts licence freeze
The lifting a moratorium on new fish-farm applications on British Columbia’s coast won’t lead to “a free-for-all” of new requests, according to an industry spokeswoman. Ottawa put applications on hold in 2011 while the Cohen Commission investigating the state of Pacific salmon fishery. However, Fisheries Minister Gail Shea quietly lifted the freeze several months ago.

State files charges against 2 derelict boat owners
Criminal charges have been filed against the owners of two derelict vessels that recently sank and leaked hundreds of gallons of fuel into Puget Sound, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday.... Stephen C. Mason was charged in Pierce County Superior Court with causing the 167-foot Helena Star to become abandoned, and discharging pollutants into state waters. The Helena Star sank last January in the Hylebos Waterway and took down another vessel tied to it. Separately, Anthony R. Smith was charged in Kitsap County Superior Court with theft, causing a vessel to become abandoned and discharging pollutants into state waters. The state alleges Smith failed to pay moorage fees after moving the 57-foot historic tugboat Chikamauga to Eagle Harbor Marina in February 2013 and also failed to address the deteriorating condition of his boat. The tugboat sank last October, dumping a few hundred gallons of petroleum products into the water.

Decline in Bellingham Bay marine life eludes quick diagnosis
To the non-scientist, it looks obvious: The decline in marine life at the bottom of Bellingham Bay is what we would expect in a bay used as a dump for industrial waste, human sewage, garbage and polluted stormwater over many decades. But marine researchers say it's not that simple. Valerie Partridge, one of the authors of a recent Washington Department of Ecology study of Bellingham Bay sediment quality, said she doesn't feel she has evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict man-made pollution in this case. John Stark reports.

Bids solicited for 'complicated, expensive' Rock Bay cleanup
The federal and provincial governments are set to spend at least another $30 million to clean up the 100-year-old toxic stew of contaminants in Victoria’s Rock Bay area. Transport Canada opened bidding Wednesday on a contract to dam Rock Bay Harbour, drain the water and truck away hundreds of loads of contaminated soil. It’s the latest step in what has ballooned into one of most complicated and expensive contaminated site clean-up projects in B.C. Rob Shaw reports.

Sochi Winter Olympics' orca whale exhibit sparks outrage
Environmental groups and whale researchers are urging Olympic organizers to condemn the display of two captured killer whales at the Sochi Winter Games in Russia next month. A Russian company captured seven orcas in the sea of Okhotsk last summer, northeast of Japan, and is preparing to ship two of them to its aquarium in Sochi to cash in on the Olympics.

EPA: Mining poses risks to Bristol Bay salmon
A government report indicates a large-scale copper and gold mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay region could have devastating effects on the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery and adversely affect Alaska Natives, whose culture is built around salmon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released its final assessment of the impact of mining in the Bristol Bay region. Its findings are similar to those of an earlier draft report, concluding that, depending on the size of the mine, up to 94 miles of streams would be destroyed in the mere build-out of the project, including losses of between 5 and 22 miles of streams known to provide salmon spawning and rearing habitat. Up to 5,350 acres of wetlands, ponds and lakes also would be lost due to the mine footprint. Becky Bohrer reports.

Scientists Say Stop Worrying About Fukushima Radioactivity In Fish
Hundreds of millions of gallons of radioactive water were released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station after the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 hit Japan. That’s made many people nervous about eating fish caught on this side of the Pacific Ocean. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 852 AM PST THU JAN 16 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG WITH VISIBILITIES OF 1 NM OR LESS.
TONIGHT
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 14 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG WITH VISIBILITIES OF 1 NM OR LESS.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

1/15 Indian fishing, Fed funding, Squamish spill, Navy jets, tsunami house

West Seattle Beach Walk (Alan Berner/Seattle Times)

If you like to watch: Northwest Wanderings: Low tide night beach walk
It's splendor in the grass -- eel grass. "We've got sex on the beach," announces Seattle Aquarium naturalist Larry Reymann. During a minus 1.5 tide at night, more than two dozen naturalists are leading small groups on a journey of discovery at West Seattle's Constellation Park and Marine Reserve. Colin Diltz reports.

New blog: When Good Beaches Go Bad
“The forecast for Wednesday is 10- to 12-foot surf on the north shore of Oahu and what the ocean brings in as sand it takes away and brings back again. But sometimes it doesn’t...”

Bill would clear convictions during 1960s, '70s fish-ins by American Indians
Decades after American Indians were arrested for exercising treaty-protected fishing rights during the "Fish Wars," a proposal in the state Legislature would give those who were jailed a chance to clear their convictions from the record. During fish-ins and other civil disobedience protests of the 1960s and 1970s, tribal members and others were roughed up, harassed and arrested while asserting their right to fish for salmon in violation of state regulations at the time. Rep. David Sawyer, a Democrat from Tacoma, is the prime sponsor of the bill. He says it's time to allow people to clear those charges. Phuong Le reports.

Spending bill aims billions toward Washington state
.... Two Democratic House members, Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck, said the bill includes $25 million to help clean up the Puget Sound, restore its salmon and make sure that it remains a “national environmental priority.” That’s much more than the $17 million that President Barack Obama had sought for recovery efforts, but the freshmen congressmen said the money will help protect thousands of jobs that rely on the Puget Sound and its surrounding waters. Rob Hotakainen reports.

Old tug sinks, spilling diesel near Squamish  
A 112-year-old tugboat that sank near the government dock in Squamish, B.C. on Tuesday spilled up to 1,500 litres of diesel fuel into the waters of Mamquam Blind Channel. Officials are on the scene assessing the situation, using booms and absorbents to contain whatever fuel they can. The Coast Guard expects waves will break up any of the fuel that did manage to spread. Still, local environmentalists are concerned about what affect the spill might have on local fish stocks.

Public comment period extended to Jan. 31 for Whidbey Island Growler airfield operations
The Navy has extended the deadline for public comment for an environmental impact statement on EA-18G Growler airfield operations on Whidbey Island until Jan. 31. The previous deadline, Jan. 3., didn’t provide enough time for people to comment, according to Port Townsend City officials.

This Beautiful Washington House Could Withstand A Tsunami
Steps away from the water, Tsunami House is located on a FEMA-designated high velocity flood zone.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PST TUE JAN 14 2014
WED
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 7 OR 8 FT AT 14 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG.
WED NIGHT
E WIND RISING TO 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES BUILDING TO 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 14 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO 6 FT AT 13
 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

1/14 Burnaby spill, oil trains, feeding orcas, WVA spill, BC wolverines, Western bumblebee, monkeys

CN derailment (Vancouver Sun)

Burnaby coal spill could affect salmon: biologist
A coal-train derailment and spill into a tributary of Burnaby Lake follows the celebration of significant returns of chum salmon to the area after years of government and volunteer efforts, a fish biologist said Monday. “I’m very concerned about what is the potential impact of that spill both into Silver Creek and the Brunette River itself,” said Mike Pearson, who specializes in the watershed. “Some of those chum salmon are likely spawning in that stream.” He added that endangered western painted turtles are also known to “overwinter buried in the mud in the vicinity” of where Silver Creek empties into Burnaby Lake. Larry Pynn reports. See also: City of Burnaby asks for cargo info in wake of coal spill

For oil trains crossing Oregon, Washington, state oversight gaps raise questions in wake of accidents  
Ship crude oil on a tanker, barge or through a pipeline in Oregon and Washington, and you’d better get ready for paperwork. It helps ensure state responders are ready for potentially catastrophic oil spills. You’ll have to tell them where you’re sending the oil. How much. What type it is. When you’ll unload it. Want to avoid the hassle? Just put the oil on a train. With little public discussion, trains hauling potentially explosive crude oil are already passing near schools and through towns in Oregon and Washington, past parks and playgrounds. The oil is being transported under lighter state oversight than if it moved any other way. Rob Davis reports. See also: How Many Rail Cars Carrying Hazardous Materials Get Inspected?

Biologist sentenced for feeding killer whales
A prominent California marine biologist was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act by feeding killer whales in the wild, a misdemeanor. Nancy Black was sentenced to three years of probation, $12,500 in fines and 300 hours of community service. Black, who runs a popular whale watching tour on Monterey Bay, had pleaded guilty to one count of violating the federal act when she fed whale blubber to orcas in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 2004 and 2005. Martha Mendoza reports.

Mysteries Persist Surrounding West Virginia Chemical Spill
The chemical that was found last week to be contaminating the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of West Virginians is used to clean coal. But very little is known about how toxic it is to people or to the environment when it spills. The chemical is called 4-methyl-cyclohexane-methanol or MCHM. If you've never heard of it, you're in good company. Most chemists and toxicologists hadn't either — nor had the water company, nor emergency responders in West Virginia who had to deal with thousands of gallons of it spilling from a tank into the Elk River, just a mile and a half upstream from the intake for the region's drinking water plant. Elizabeth Shogren reports.

Reclusive wolverines set up house on B.C. coast
B.C.'s wolverines are expanding their territory, according to a study published Monday in The Canadian Field-Naturalist. Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist Tom Shardlow, who authored the report, says at least two wolverines have taken up residence on Princess Royal Island, 130 kilometres south of Kitimat, in B.C.'s Great Bear Rainforest. Shardlow says it's the first proven sighting of a wolverine in the area.  B.C. has 3,000 to 4,000 wolverines, but until now, most have been living in snowy habitats at higher elevations in the province's interior.

The mysterious reappearance of the Western bumblebee
Sightings in the Seattle area and Colorado have raised hopes for a species that helps agriculture but seemed to have disappeared... Western bumblebees, which usually have a distinctive white patch on their tail ends — hence their other common name, white-bottomed bees — are key pollinators of cranberries, blueberries, cherries, greenhouse tomatoes and other species. Their recent reappearance in Washington and Colorado has surprised and delighted both amateur and professional entomologists, particularly because the species is among several North American bumblebees known to be shrinking in numbers and range.  Michelle Nijhuis reports.

Research monkeys quietly live and die in Everett lab
It's true. He does kill monkeys in his business. And those dead monkeys mean advances in human health. Mark Crane is second in command at the West Coast's largest monkey lab, located in Everett. The former Connecticut high school health teacher turned corporate vice president said the animal-rights activists who protest outside the biomedical research facility should reflect more on what happens inside. SNBL USA, Crane said, is saving people's lives through medical innovation. Amy Nile reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PST MON JAN 13 2014
TUE
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 10 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
TUE NIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 8 FT AT 14 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

1/13 WA legislature, CN coal train derails, rail safety, Vancouver WA oil port ruling, herring, fuel standards

From BirdNote

If you like to listen: Donald Duck
From BirdNote: "Today, we celebrate Donald Fauntleroy Duck, first sighted in Hollywood in 1934. Despite nearly 80 years on the big screen and more than 150 films and countless comic books to his credit, Donald's plumage has never changed. Donald doesn't migrate, but resides year round in Duckburg. To our knowledge, longtime sweetheart Daisy has never made Donald a father. But he does show a strong paternal instinct for a trio of unruly nephews. While he means well, he tends to get in over his head, but he somehow overcomes the odds. And that perhaps is why Donald Duck is still loved after all these years."

New blog: Freedom Enterprises in West Virginia
“I don’t want to be ironic so early in the new year but it’s awful that hundreds of thousands have been put at risk in West Virginia by the spill of the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol into the Elk River by a company called Freedom Enterprises...”

Legislators enter session with limited ambitions
The Legislature will return to Olympia on Monday for a 60-day session that is low on expectations as a divided government enters an election year. Apart from an opportunity to pass a major transportation tax package – a roughly once-a-decade event – little else of major substance is likely to happen. Partisan gridlock is one factor limiting ambitions this year. Brad Shannon and Jordan Schrader report.

CN Rail says beavers, rain to blame for Burnaby derailment  
CN Rail has completed its initial investigation into the derailment of nine coal cars in Burnaby, B.C., Saturday morning, and says that heavy rain and the workmanship of beavers are to blame. Emily Hamer, CN Rail regional manager for public and government affairs, said that environmental factors undermined the tracks near Burnaby Lake.... At around 11 a.m. nine rail cars carrying coal on a westbound CP Rail train operated by a CN Rail crew derailed near the intersection of Cariboo Road and Government Street. Six of the cars remained upright, but three were on their sides and some of the contents had spilled out into a ditch, Hamer said.

Bellingham mayor wants federal attention to rail safety
With trainloads of Bakken crude oil already rolling through the heart of the city to the BP Cherry Point refinery, Mayor Kelli Linville will ask City Council to approve a resolution calling on state and federal officials to do everything they can to promote safety.... Linville said she was troubled to learn that regulators and the rail industry acknowledge the need to replace tens of thousands of tank cars pressed into service to handle the Bakken oil boom. The Railway Supply Institute, an industry group, has proposed a 10-year timeline for making the estimated $1 billion investment in new rail cars that would be more resistant to rupture and explosion if trains derail. John Stark reports.

Judge rules partly in favor of port over oil terminal
A Clark County judge Friday ruled partly in favor of the Port of Vancouver in a lawsuit that claimed the port violated state environmental and open public meetings laws in approving a lease to build the largest oil-handling facility in the Northwest. Superior Court Judge David Gregerson dismissed a claim by three environmental groups that the port violated the state Environmental Policy Act by approving a lease to build an oil terminal before an environmental impact statement was issued. The decision means the lease — involving 42 acres and worth at least $45 million over an initial 10 years — remains intact, although the ruling could be appealed. Meanwhile, the oil-by-rail proposal by Tesoro Corp. and Savage Companies, which faces strong public opposition, is moving through a yearlong environmental-impact review by a state-level permitting agency. At the same time, Gregerson said there's a "public benefit" in allowing Columbia Riverkeeper, Sierra Club and Northwest Environmental Defense Center to pursue their separate complaint that the port violated the state Open Public Meetings Act by holding an illegal secret meeting to discuss the lease. Aaron Corvin reports.

Herring key food for land-based species: study
Scientists on Vancouver Island have for the first time linked spawning Pacific herring, a well-known marine food fish, to the health of land creatures big and small. “We often talk about how salmon subsidize and influence ecosystems by providing food but herring are also one of these species — and we have them in abundance,” said Caroline Fox, the lead researcher on a study released by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the University of Victoria. After a worrisome decline, herring stocks look to be bouncing back. While the effects of herring on marine life have been studied, scientists haven’t really looked at what happens in other ecosystems when waves of eggs wash ashore during spawning. Sarah Petrescu reports.

Potential fuel standard has state GOP, truckers up in arms
Gov. Jay Inslee joined leaders of California, Oregon and British Columbia in October to sign a Pacific Coast agreement on climate change and energy policy that includes a pledge to adopt a green fuel standard. The standard could encourage wider use of blended fuels or biodiesel that lower the carbon emissions linked to global warming. Three months later, Inslee finds himself fending off claims by state Republican lawmakers and the trucking industry that he might act alone to enact such a standard. The critics claim the standard would drive up the cost of fuel by $1 a gallon and that it jeopardizes passage of a gas tax package to fix state bridges and upgrade the highway system. Brad Shannon reports.

Upcoming: Way of Whales Workshop, January 25, Coupeville:  "Saving Iconic Pacific Northwest Species -  Southern Resident Orcas and Salmon " Cost of the workshop is $30 ($25 for Students/Seniors), and a hot lunch is available for purchase for an additional $10  (for those who pre-register by Jan. 20, or on an as-available basis after this date). Register at Orca Network.

Upcoming: Sound Waters,  February 1, Oak Harbor: Whidbey Beachwaters’ “one day university” for those with an interest in learning about and taking care of this amazing place that we call home. Register by January 25.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PST SUN JAN 12 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON
MON
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 11 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
MON NIGHT
SW WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 11 FT AT 13 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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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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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told