4/29 Coal, Whale Trail, special session, old growth, carwashes, grass runoff, citizen science, Belfair sewer, Species Procession, PenPly stack

Donna Sandstrom, The Whale Trail (Lonnie Archibald, PDN)

A push for more Montana coal exports to Asia — and a pushback over fears about air pollution and global warming — could turn into the Northwest’s biggest environmental battle in years. Hal Bernton reports. In the Northwest, rising coal exports to Asia stir huge fight  See also: Coal trains would worsen Marysville’s traffic problem

Her journey started with an orphan whale but morphed into much more.  In 2002, Donna Sandstrom was part of the intense effort to return the orca named Springer to its home waters off Vancouver Island. "It was a life-changing event. We had worked together for a common goal, getting a little whale home," said Sandstrom, who later worked collaboratively to save the endangered species. But Sandstrom had an educational concept that she wanted to bring to life: the The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org). She started the nonprofit, assembled a team of partners, and was in work mode by 2008. Sharon Wootton reports. Whale Tail signs remind of the marine mammals here  

Gov. Jay Inslee is calling a special session in Olympia so that lawmakers can complete their work on a new two-year budget. After a 105-day regular legislative session, the state Legislature adjourned Sunday evening without coming to an agreement on a new budget. Inslee immediately called them to return on May 13. Lawmakers are tasked with patching a projected budget deficit of more than $1.2 billion for the next two-year budget, not counting additional money needed for a court-ordered requirement that they increase funding to basic education. Gov. Inslee calls special session; lawmakers returning May 13 to complete budget. 

A federal appeals court has thrown out an agreement between environmentalists and the federal government that restored protections for rare species in old growth forests. The Thursday ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was a victory for the timber industry, which was shut out of talks leading to the agreement. The appeals court found that such a significant change in forest management has to go through a public process. Court tosses agreement over rare forest species  

Old-fashioned carwashes that allow dirty, soapy water to wash into storm drains are starting to fade into history — and none too soon for water-quality experts. Public awareness about the problems of dirty stormwater is on the rise, said Mindy Fohn of Kitsap County’s Surface and Stormwater Management Program. A recent Kitsap County survey showed that three-fourths of respondents believed that old-fashioned carwashes should be discontinued, she said.... As a result, many nonprofit groups have switched to raising money by selling carwash coupons for use at commercial carwashes. Commercial carwashes are required to either filter their wash water or else discharge it into a sanitary sewer that goes to a sewage-treatment plant. Chris Dunagan reports. Old-fashioned carwashes are dying out  

A hybrid farmland grass, developed by a team of UK researchers, could help reduce flooding, a study has shown. A team of plant and soil scientists said tests showed the new cultivar reduced run-off by 51%, compared with a variety widely used to feed livestock. They added that rapid growth and well developed root systems meant that more moisture was retained within the soil rather than running into river systems. The findings appear in the journal Scientific Reports. Mark Kinver reports. Hybrid grass 'could reduce flooding impact'  

While the "muzzling" of Canadian government scientists is worrying to some democracy advocates, citizen science activism is one movement that is providing greater transparency....Citizen science activism is perhaps now more than ever necessary to ensure that science remains more open, accessible and inclusive. Science activism is about taking science out of labs and bringing it into communities to create positive, lasting change by engaging people, and incorporating their testimonies into the research. Dalal Kheder, Idil Mussa, Natalie Paddon and Andrea Smith report. How Activism Drives Citizen Science  

As many North Mason residents have suspected from the beginning, Mason County does not have the money to pay for the Belfair sewer system. The sewer system isn’t bringing in enough revenue to cover the cost of maintenance and operations and debt repayment, which is required by state law, said Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin. The price tag for keeping the Belfair sewers running will reach more than $1.4 million in 2014, including nearly $700,000 in maintenance and operations costs and another $736,000 to cover debt the county took out to pay for the system. Arla Shephard reports. Mason County can't afford to pay for Belfair sewer system

Pink flamingos on stilts, bats on skates, umbrella jellyfish and dandelion-seed hats mean only one thing: It’s Procession of the Species in downtown Olympia. The annual event took over the streets of downtown for the 19th year Saturday with onlookers lining up for prime seating hours before the event began. Children passed the time with street chalk and bubble-blowing, watching people walk about the streets dressed in costume. Chelsea Krotzer reports. Procession of the Species is elemental to Olympia

A 175-foot Peninsula Plywood mill chimney stack that fought being felled April 8 — before saws and torches did the trick — is still in a fractured pile while its remains are examined for levels of dioxin, a toxic compound, Port of Port Angeles Director of Engineering Chris Hartman said Friday. That means this Friday's deadline date for completing demolition of the 439 Marine Drive industrial site will be delayed by a few days, he said. The dioxin levels are “considerably greater than what we thought,” Hartman said.  Paul Gottlieb reports. PenPly stack dioxin level delays finish of mill demolition

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT MON APR 29 2013
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 8 SECONDS. SCATTERED SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 20 KT OVERNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 9 SECONDS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
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