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| Raindrop Catcher (Laurie MacBride) |
Hundreds of globs of an orange, grease-like substance washed ashore on Maury Island this week, prompting state officials to begin a cleanup effort. Officials with the state Department of Ecology (DOE), noting that the incident is unusual, believe the globs may be a marine lubricant from a ship. The grease balls were reported to the state yesterday by Amy Carey, a local environmentalist and director of Preserve Our Island who heard the report from a Maury resident. The globs range in size from about an inch across to the size of an apple and are mostly at the high-tide line among driftwood and other debris. DOE has reported that the grease washed up on a two-mile stretch of shoreline between Point Robinson and the Maury Island Marine Park, and the agency is asking that people who see globs on any other beaches report the sighting immediately. Natalie Johnson reports. State plans cleanup of grease globs that washed ashore on Maury Subsequently: J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Martinac) of Tacoma cooperated in the cleanup effort. The company uses the material, called Neptune Slip Coat, to lubricate rails when launching ships. During a pre-dawn ship launching on Jan. 25, 2013, at the company’s shipyard on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, some of the lubricant floated away in the darkness. Martinac provided shoreline cleanup in Tacoma’s Browns Point area on Feb. 7 and 8 after residents reported the material on beaches there. Lubricant removed from Maury Island beaches
A new oil-skimming system is up and running at Neah Bay. The Elastec/American Marine X150 grooved-disc skimmer has more storage capacity and is three to four times faster than other systems, state Department of Ecology officials said. The state-of-the-art skimmer is part of the Washington State Maritime Cooperative's umbrella oil-spill readiness plan that Ecology approved last week. The contingency plan covers more than 1,600 commercial vessels that enter the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor. Rob Ollikainen reports. New skimmer preps Neah Bay for oil spills
Gilnetters and seiners hauled in thousands of tons of herring from the Strait of Georgia this week, but there are fewer fish in the water than last year, even though the quota for the roe herring fishery is higher. That has herring conservationists concerned about the future of stocks, especially as some populations, such as in the Gorge, have all but disappeared while others, such as on the west coast of Vancouver Island, remain too depleted to allow a fishery. Judith Lavoie reports. Quota rises as herring count falls
A coal export terminal proposed for Oregon’s South Coast has hit a setback. Two of the project’s investors have dropped out, according to documents obtained Friday by EarthFix. Project Mainstay in Coos Bay is one of five proposed coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest. They’re intended to ship coal from mines in Montana and Wyoming to markets in Asia. Project Mainstay is the only one of those five terminals that hasn’t reached the permitting stage. Amelia Templeton reports. Coal Export Terminal Faces Setback On South Oregon Coast
Monday's two-year anniversary of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is highlighting the country's continuing struggle to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies. More than 300,000 people remain displaced and virtually no rebuilding has begun along the battered northeastern coast, where the tsunami swept away entire communities. Japan still cleaning up 2 years after tsunami See: Canadian volunteers tackle Japanese tsunami cleanup See also: B.C. woman finds tsunami boat, meets owner in Japan
For years Kristi Miller has been probing the complex and controversial world of fish diseases on the West Coast, where scientists are trying to unravel the mystery of why millions of apparently healthy salmon die annually. Now Dr. Miller, the groundbreaking head of molecular genetics for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Brian Riddell, a former top scientist with DFO who directs the non-profit Pacific Salmon Foundation, are teaming up with Genome B.C. in the most comprehensive study of salmon health ever undertaken in the world. Mark Hume reports. Largest study of salmon health ever undertaken set to begin in B.C.
State wildlife officials say a Port of Manchester commissioner is breaking shoreline protection laws and putting sensitive fish at risk, and neighbors say it's not the first time he's done it. Commissioner Jim Strode is facing a criminal charge for allegedly directing a backhoe to move a log onto Pomeroy Beach. That's illegal without a proper construction permit, which the Port of Manchester didn't have. A state Fish and Wildlife incident report says Strode admitted moving the log, but got very agitated and threatened the officers, saying he had "connections." Tracy Vedder reports. Port commissioner accused of acting 'above the law'
Three man-made logjams, designed to improve salmon habitat in the Dosewallips River, are scheduled for construction this summer inside Olympic National Forest. These “engineered” logjams, which include massive trees embedded into the riverbank, were approved Friday by Dean Yoshina, district ranger for the Hood Canal Ranger District. The long-term plan is to install 14 logjams and other woody debris in five separate projects along the Dosewallips. Chris Dunagan reports. Logjams planned for Dosewallips River
The California Coastal Commission on Friday rejected a Navy explosives and sonar training program off the Southern California coast that critics said could harm endangered blue whales and other sea life. Commissioners meeting in San Diego ruled unanimously that the Navy lacked enough information to back up its argument that the threat to marine mammals would be negligible. The program had been scheduled to begin in January. Commission staffers had recommended that the panel require additional wildlife protections before endorsing it. The panel and the Navy could now seek mediation to iron out their differences — or the Navy could simply choose to proceed with the training, as it did in 2007 and 2009. That probably would prompt the commission to sue in an effort to block the program, as it has in the past. Julie Watson reports. California commission rejects Navy sonar training, says it would harm whales
Legislation that would encourage state officials to deal with derelict vessels sooner was approved by the state House of Representatives this week on a 96-1 vote. The bill, HB 1245, would require inspections of large vessels before sale. It includes a pilot program that would allow owners of derelict vessels to turn them over to the state before they become a major liability. The bill also includes provisions for increased enforcement. Chris Dunagan reports. Derelict vessel bill passes House
A House bill making its way through the state Legislature is gaining support from local boat repair companies who say current law makes it a challenge to attract out-of-state boaters. The Marine Tourism Bill would increase to six months the amount of time an out-of-state boat owned by a business could stay in Washington. Currently, such boats can stay in Washington up to 60 days without potentially facing thousands of dollars in state taxes. Lengthening the time they could stay would help bring more money into the state because boat owners would be more likely to stay here for boat maintenance and would spend money on other products while visiting. Dave Gallagher reports. Proposed state bill could boost local marine service businesses
Negotiations about a cleanup plan for Port Gamble Bay have continued for the past week and are not yet over, officials say. Monday’s deadline for an agreement, imposed upon Pope Resources by the Washington Department of Ecology, has come and gone. As of Friday, both sides were still in discussions, but neither will say publicly how the talks are going. At stake in the dispute is a restoration plan that would include $9 million appropriated by the Legislature and another $7 million offered by Pope Resources. That restoration plan, which is separate from the $17 million cleanup plan, could fall apart if the parties can’t agree on how to conduct the cleanup. Chris Dunagan reports. Parties still discussing Gamble Bay cleanup
After two years of construction, Puget Sound Energy recently brought its second “floating surface collector” online. The 1,100-ton barge is anchored in Lake Shannon just before the Lower Baker River Dam and should help migrating salmon get past the hydroelectric facility, according to a news release from the utility. The new collector is modeled after a similar system PSE pioneered at Baker Lake, the upper reservoir of the Baker River. Mark Stayton reports. PSE salmon collector online at Lake Shannon
A cherished local wetland is getting a face lift and possibly a new caretaker after nearly two years of misuse. The past few weeks, the gates have been closed to the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary near Paine Field. Snohomish County workers have been giving the wetlands, and its parking lot, some extra care as spring draws near. A change in management is also on tap. The Snohomish County Council will hold a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday over a plan to fund the salary for a park ranger, who would oversee Narbeck. The three-quarter-time position would cost $57,641. Michelle Dunlop reports. Everett wetland park to see improvements after neglect
When osprey return to Whidbey Island from the south this spring they’ll find a few changes in their homes. Some will be gone, some were moved, and some must be rebuilt starting from scratch. The fish-eating raptors don’t know it, but their nests are well taken care of during the winter months by a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) expert who keeps the supportive Whidbey Audubon Society apprised of his efforts. Jim Larsen reports. Surprises await ospreys’ return to South Whidbey
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network is seeking a sculpture artist for their educational outreach project, The Year of the Seal. The project will culminate with the installation on Alki Beach of a largely realistic bronze work depicting a harbor seal mom and pup. Harbor seals are considered by biologists to be an indicator species for the health of our waters. The sculpture will raise awareness of our fragile marine ecosystem and all marine life that calls Puget Sound home. The artwork is funded by a grant from Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods. Seal Sitters is seeking a sculpture artist for Year of the Seal
State government plans to outsource the operation of its main face on the Internet to a private company that it says can run the Access Washington website at no cost to state taxpayers. Kansas-based NIC Inc. will, of course, recoup its expenses – along with a profit – for running the Web portal and other “e-government” services for the state. But the money will come from transaction fees on businesses that, for example, want information about vehicle licenses. Jordan Schrader repots. State decides to outsource Web work to private company
Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PDT SUN MAR 10 2013
MON
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT...RISING TO 15 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS...BUILDING TO 2 TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. W
SWELL 5 FT AT 12 SECONDS. RAIN.
MON NIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. RAIN.
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