1/31 BC fishery, boat poop, orca tracking, shell no drill, rail rules, Tesoro blast, starfish, Edmonds Marsh, Nature Conservancy $

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Fisheries

5 Vancouver Island native bands get commercial fishery
Five First Nations on Vancouver Island, who are part of the collective known as the Nuu-chah-nulth, have had their right to catch and sell nearly all species of fish found within their territories recognized by the country's highest court. The reaffirmation of Nuu-chah-nulth commercial fishing rights came Thursday morning when the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the federal government's appeal of a B.C. court ruling. The decision ends a decade-long legal fight between Canada and the Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla­‐o­‐qui­‐aht nations over aboriginal economic fishing rights.

New blog: 2014: One Down, 11 to Go
“A month ago, when the year was fresh and new, I wrote about “What I'm Looking For In 2014.”  We’re one month into 2014 and starting out another lunar year. Happy Lunar New Year!  Have I found anything yet in 2014 that I’m looking for?...”

If you like to watch: On poop patrol with the 'Pumpout Pirates'

If you like to watch: Video shows 30 days of tracking J pod orcas

Shell won’t drill for oil in Alaska’s Arctic this year
Oil companies’ rush to find reserves off Alaska’s Arctic shores suffered a setback Thursday after Shell said it would suspend its operations in the region, possibly for good. Royal Dutch Shell PLC is the main company to have purchased leases for oil fields off Alaska’s Arctic shores, but its attempts to drill have been halting because of technical and legal hurdles. While other companies are still seeking to exploit deep-water Arctic fields nearby in Canada, Shell’s troubles may indicate that the difficulties outweigh the potential economic benefits.

Federal rail agency collects minimal enforcement fines, documents show
The U.S. Department of Transportation collects relatively small civil penalties against the railroads it regulates, as concern grows over the safety of shipping large volumes of crude oil and ethanol in tank cars long known to be deficient, federal documents show. A McClatchy review of annual enforcement reports shows that the Federal Railroad Administration rarely fines any company more than $25,000, though it’s authorized to collect a maximum of $175,000 per violation. Some fines are as little as $250, and most settlements are substantially lower than the agency had first proposed. Additional documents obtained by McClatchy reveal that the agency agreed to a $17,000 settlement in September 2010 with the Canadian National Railway over a June 2009 derailment in Cherry Valley, Ill. The accident killed one person, injured nine – including two firefighters – spilled more than 300,000 gallons of ethanol and caused the evacuation of more than 600 nearby residents. Curtis Tate reports.

Feds Find Culture Of 'Complacency' At Tesoro Before Deadly Refinery Fire
A culture of complacency at Tesoro’s Anacortes refinery led to the deadly fireball that claimed the lives of seven workers in 2010, according to federal investigators who've spent almost four years examining the causes. The equipment that exploded in the early hours of April 2, 2010 had developed leaks that the company knew about. The carbon steel tubing of the equipment had been weakened over time by hydrogen and that had caused cracks.  Ashley Gross reports.

Citizen Scientists Asked To Help Search For #SickStarfish
With thousands of miles of coastline in North America, scientists can’t be everywhere at once to keep an eye out for sick and dying starfish.... Puget Sound diver Laura James has built a new tool to make it easy for citizen scientists to help.... James and her dive buddy Lamont Granquist created a sick starfish website for tracking posts to social media sites like Twitter and Instagram. If divers, tidepoolers or beachcombers snap photos of starfish and add the hashtag #sickstarfish, their reports will automatically upload to the map. Katie Campbell reports. See also: Sea star wasting syndrome found in seven specimens in Freshwater Bay

City, Army Corps may partner on marsh restoration
At one time, the Edmonds Marsh was the site of a dairy; at another, Edmonds residents enjoyed playing golf there. But go back far enough, before settlers began altering the landscape, and Edmonds Marsh was just that – a swamp, a bog, a wetland that was sanctuary to all manner of wildlife, from Chinook salmon to Great Blue Herons. Environmentalists are leading efforts to return the marsh to its pristine state. And now, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may soon be helping in that effort. The Corps, known for its expertise in building dams, irrigation systems and similar projects, is increasingly focusing on restorative work as well. Paul Archipley reports.

Nature Conservancy Raises $33.3 Million for Conservation
The Nature Conservancy’s three-year Forces of Nature campaign has raised $33.3 million in private dollars for conservation in Washington and internationally. The campaign, the largest in the chapter’s history and one of the largest campaigns for conservation ever in Washington, was focused on conserving and restoring natural systems while enhancing the well-being of people.... In all, the Conservancy raised nearly $18 million for acquisitions, $10 million for on-the-ground work, and more than $6 million for international programs.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST FRI JAN 31 2014
TODAY
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT...BECOMING 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
SAT
SE WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING E TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
SUN
E WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS.

--
"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.

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1/30 Skokomish, BC dams, Maury Beach, Tesoro blast, BC oil, Chickamauga, starfish, boat poop, Ledgewood slide, Sunset Falls, Trans Pac, climate change, Seahawk mask

Drumbeg Park (Laurie MacBride)

Perigee Moons and Cluttered Shores
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Thursday will bring a “supermoon”, with the New Moon occurring at the same time as the moon is in Perigee (the closest its orbit comes to the earth). Larger than average tides accompany every New and Full Moon, year-round. But the added Perigee component means that over the next few days, our high tides will be much higher than normal, and the difference between high and low tides will be more extreme...."

If you like to watch: Coming Back: Restoring the Skokomish Watershed
Members of the Skokomish Watershed Action Team have been collaborating for a decade on how to best restore the Skokomish watershed, located at the southern end of Hood Canal, in western Washington. From federal agencies to the Skokomish Tribe to private citizens, this is the story of how these very different groups have worked to restore the river after decades of logging and development in the area. North40 Productions (14 minutes)

Risk to B.C. salmon 'minimal' from run-of-river projects
An independent review of B.C.'s run-of-river projects has tentatively concluded that most of the hydro plants have had no impact on salmon species in the rivers used to generate electricity. The review was conducted by the Pacific Salmon Foundation, a salmon and watershed conservation group, on behalf of Clean Energy BC representing independent power producers in the province.... The foundation found that while it is likely individual fish are killed at a number of facilities after getting caught or stranded by diverted water flows, there is little evidence that there has been harm to the fish populations as a whole.

Maury Beach
Dan McShane blogs that the City of Bellingham is seeking input on naming a new park in Bellingham Bay and suggests the name "Maury Beach Park" after the late WWU scientist Maury Schwartz who studied beach processes. (Further south, the island next to Vashon island was named, per Wikipedia, during the Wilkes Expedition in honor of William Lewis Maury, who between 1863 and 1864 raided Union ships on behalf of the Confederacy and is buried in Caroline County, Virginia.)

Tesoro blast report faults oil industry standards
A draft report by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigating the deadly 2010 Tesoro refinery explosion found serious flaws in safety culture at the facility, with industry standards, and with state and federal oversight of the petroleum industry. The explosion was caused by “High Temperature Hydrogen Attack” or HTHA, which severely cracked and weakened carbon steel tubing leading to a rupture, according to a CSB draft report released Thursday. The report makes far-reaching recommendations to federal agencies to prevent further incidents. The draft report is available at www.csb.gov. Public comment will be accepted until Sunday, March 16. Comments can be sent to tesorocomments@csb.gov. All comments will be reviewed and published on the CSB website.

Jack Knox: Dump the rhetoric, prepare for oil spill
Listening to Barack Obama give his State of the Union address, you could just about envision the oil tankers sliding past Victoria. Or maybe not, depending on who’s reading the tea leaves. In any case, our neighbours across Juan de Fuca Strait are taking no chances. They’re preparing for an oil spill. Spurred on in part by the Kinder Morgan pipeline proposal, U.S. authorities on the Olympic Peninsula are getting down to the nuts and bolts of what to do if the black goop hits the beach. For this is what suddenly alarmed Americans are dealing with now that dependable if dull Canada, the Ned Flanders of North America, has suddenly gone Breaking Bad: Ford, Bieber and bitumen, baby — the Canucks have gone rogue.

Tugboat owner enters not guilty plea to felony charges
he owner of the historic tugboat that sank last October in Eagle Harbor and spilled hundreds of gallons of fuel into Puget Sound entered a plea of not guilty to three felony charges Wednesday in Kitsap County Superior Court. Anthony Royce Smith, the owner of the 100-year-old tug "Chickamauga," was charged earlier this month by the Washington State Attorney General's Office with one count of first-degree theft, one charge of causing a vessel to become abandoned or derelict and one count of discharge of polluting matters into state waters. The charges were the first in recent history to be filed by the state of Washington for environmental crimes involving derelict vessels, and were prompted by the sinking of the "Chickamauga" in its mooring at the Eagle Harbor Marina on Oct. 2. Cecilia Garza reports.

Northwest Starfish Experiments Give Scientists Clues To Mysterious Mass Die-offs
Near the ferry docks on Puget Sound, a group of scientists and volunteer divers shimmy into suits and double-check their air tanks... (Ben) Miner is a biology professor at Western Washington University. He studies how environmental changes affect marine life. He’s conducting experiments in hopes of figuring out how and why starfish — or sea stars, as scientists prefer to call the echinoderms — are wasting away by the tens of thousands up and down North America’s Pacific shores. Katie Campbell reports.

'Pump, Don't Dump': Campaign Urges Boaters To Avoid Sewage Spills With Free Kit
A rubber adapter be the answer to preventing illegal dumping in local waterways, according to a new campaign by Washington Sea Grant. The pathogens in untreated wastewater can cause everything from minor skin rashes to serious gastrointestinal illnesses like Giardia and norovirus. But it happens, and often by accident. Many boaters know better, but lack proper equipment or information on how to pump out safely.  Bellamy Pailthorp reports.

Study reveals groundwater contributed to massive slide at Ledgewood
Homeowners still living near the massive landslide area in Ledgewood are wary as more pieces of the bluff continue to slough off. Ralph Young, a resident living near the landslide site, said a large piece of the bluff broke away last month... Island County Public Works Director Bill Oakes said officials anticipated that more parts of the bluff would break off and that the debris field from the springtime landslide would remain unstable. The massive landslide occurred in March 2013, destroying a portion of Driftwood Way and prompted the evacuation of several nearby houses. Oakes said a final geology report concerning the landslide was completed in late 2013. That report described the incident as “unprecedented in recent history” and said it “represents one of the largest landslide events in the recorded history of the Puget Sound area.” Nathan Whalen reports.

Sunset Falls Dam Fight: Citizen Activists Accuse SnoPUD Of Waste, Illegal Meeting
New accusations are fueling an ongoing controversy over a proposal to put a small inflatable dam on one of the Northwest’s scenic treasures. Opponents accuse the Snohomish County PUD of clouding the issue with confusing information and a secret meeting. Bellamy Pailthorp reports.

Listen up: Trading Away Mother Earth:  Greens & Fair Trade Advocates Slam Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement
When WikiLeaks recently exposed the “Environmental Chapter” of the little known trade agreement, Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, opponents worst fears were confirmed. Like trade agreements before it, corporate interests trump enforceable environmental and labor standards. The agreement is fueling another debate over "fair trade" versus the "free trade" model long promoted by the US.  Martha Baskin reports on Green Acre radio.

Climate change taking toll on penguins, study finds
The study by University of Washington scientist P. Dee Boersma is one of the first to show a direct impact of climate change on seabirds. Most studies have looked at how warming temperatures affect animals indirectly, by altering predation patterns or food supplies.

Number of monarch butterflies drops, migration may disappear
The black-and-orange Monarch butterflies cover only 1.65 acres in the pine and fir forests west of Mexico City this year, compared with 2.93 acres last year.

At Tribe's Request, SAM Withdraws Native Artwork From Super Bowl Wager
It was meant to be a friendly wager with a cultural twist: Seattle Art Museum and Denver Art Museum each bet a temporary loan of a work of art on the Super Bowl. But SAM has withdrawn its original choice of artwork,"Forehead Mask" by the Nuxalk First Nation, at the request of the Nuxalk, and has replaced it with a different piece.... Barbara Brotherton, SAM's curator of Native American art, initially selected the mask, which bears a striking resemblance to the Seahawks logo. After news reports in Canada noted the Nuxalk were angry about the bet, she reached out to the tribe and apologized. Florangela Davila reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 625 AM PST THU JAN 30 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 15 KT IN THE LATE MORNING...THEN BECOMING E 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2
 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 9 FT AT 11 SECONDS...  SUBSIDING TO 7 FT AT 11 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS. SHOWERS...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
--
"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

1/29 Seahawks, salmon disaster, AMTRAK & trains, Burfoot sewage, SJ CAO, eagle fest, Adventuress

CBC

Super Bowl wager of native mask upsets B.C. First Nation
A Super Bowl wager between two art museums in Seattle and Denver may not happen, after it upset the B.C. First Nation with a connection to the deal. When the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos this Sunday, the Seattle Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum were planning to bet a major work of art on the outcome of the game. The winner would get to display the other city's piece for several months. But it's what the Seattle Art Museum chose to wager that attracted attention north of the border: a forehead mask from the Nuxalk First Nation, which is located on B.C.'s Central Coast near Bella Coola. Nuxalk First Nation Chief Wally Webber was not happy about how he found out about the exchange. Webber says no one had the courtesy to pick up a phone and tell him.

Feds Declare Salmon Fishery Disaster For Washington Tribes
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce has declared the Fraser River sockeye salmon run a “fishery disaster” for nine tribes and non-tribal fishers in Washington state. The Fraser River empties out near Vancouver, British Columbia. The sockeye salmon from that river are a key resource for the state and tribal fishing industries in Washington. The Fraser River sockeye salmon runs are worth more than $4 million each year, and they’ve been in decline for 30 years. The fishery was closed altogether in 2013. Fisheries managers blame the decline on poor ocean conditions, warm river temperatures and habitat decline, among other things. Tuesday’s disaster declaration empowers Congress to allocate money for fishermen and fishing communities that are affected by the crash. Ashley Ahearn reports.

New blog: 12th Man et al: When Was The Last Time You Cheered?
“The last time a lot of folks in Washington state cheered was two weekends ago and the next time they expect to cheer will be when the Super Bowl is played this Sunday. Since then, I watched rugby being played on television with the sound off last weekend and, not knowing much about the game’s rules, was amazed at the players’ prowess but had no idea what to cheer about. On Sunday, I watched the Grammy Awards with the sound on and heard a lot of cheering but just couldn’t figure out what the cheering was about. In high school, I cheered.... “

Amtrak train delayed 6 hours by coal train; passengers irked
Washington state’s passenger-rail director apologized Tuesday for a blockage that left Amtrak riders stranded for six hours Sunday night in Ferndale, Whatcom County, just south of the Canadian border. Ron Pate said he will discuss solutions with Amtrak, as well as BNSF Railway, whose disabled coal train clogged a single-track stretch of the Puget Sound mainline.... Amtrak Cascades Train 517 left Vancouver, B.C., for Seattle around 5:45 p.m., with 98 passengers aboard. Two hours later it stopped. A conductor announced a coal train had become uncoupled, said passenger Rachel Lane, 34, who said she was returning from a birthday trip with her partner and sister. BNSF owns and operates the regional corridor, while providing track time for passenger lines. The coal train became disconnected in three places, and a locomotive stopped running, Pate said. “Everything went wrong that could go wrong,” he said. Mike Lindblom reports.

Coal and oil: A mix to fuel NW fears
The masses that stormed the gates of Big Coal in 2013 are turning their fury on Big Oil as the new year opens and the Pacific Northwest considers a future as a massive pipeline on rails connecting the fossil-fuel deposits of Wyoming and North Dakota to the furnaces and factories of Asia. Floyd McKay reports.

Partially treated sewage prompts closure at Burfoot Park
The Washington Department of Ecology told the Seashore Villa mobile home park in Thurston County that it needs to fix its wastewater treatment plant that discharges to Budd Inlet, just north of Priest Point Park in Olympia, and that it faces fines for every day the plant remains off line. Ecology inspected the treatment plant Jan. 24 and discovered that the mobile home park was bypassing its treatment plant and sending partially treated sewage directly to Budd Inlet.  Also Jan. 24, the Thurston County Health Department issued a closure for Burfoot Park in Budd Inlet due to the discharge. The public is advised to have no contact with the water until further notice.

Pacific Legal Foundation jumps into legal battle over CAO
The Pacific Legal Foundation has filed an amicus curiae brief with San Juan County Superior Court in the appeal of the Growth Management Hearings Board decision on the critical areas ordinances. The brief supports the positions of the Common Sense Alliance and P.J. Taggares Company, petitioners in the continuing challenge to the final decision and order of the Hearings Board. The Pacific Legal Foundation, based in Sacramento with an office in Bellevue, is an active litigator in property rights and environmental cases across the United States, most often on behalf of property owners. Among many other cases, the foundation in 2012 sought to have Endangered Species Act protections removed for southern resident killer whales, a petition that was rejected in 2013. In this case, the PLF's "friend of the court" brief argues that water quality buffers in the CAO create "an unconstitutional burden on the development of property," according to a CSA press release.

Celebrate eagles during weekend festival
The annual Arlington-Stillaguamish Eagle Festival pays homage to the iconic birds of prey that nest along local rivers in the winter, taking advantage of salmon spawning runs and giving locals a good reason to bundle up and head outside with the binoculars. The 2014 Eagle Festival takes place this weekend, Friday and Saturday, with most events scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1, and clustered around downtown Arlington on Olympic Avenue.  Beckye Randall reports.

Public input sought on ship’s educational programs at February meetings in Port Townsend, Seattle
Landlubbers are being invited by the resident schooner Adventuress to determine what kind of educational sailing programs the tall ship should offer in the future. “We are moving forward,” said Catherine Collins, executive director of Sound Experience, the nonprofit that manages and operates the sailing ship that is based in Port Townsend... It is now beginning a yearlong process to examine Sound Experience’s current offerings and develop new ones, to provide programs that support the Next Generation Science Standards that now are being implemented in public schools throughout Washington state, Collins said.  The town hall-style meetings are scheduled in Seattle at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Center for Wooden Boats, 1010 Valley St.; and in Port Townsend at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Pope Marine Building at the corner of Water and Madison streets. Charlie Bermant reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST WED JAN 29 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SE 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 3 FT IN THE
 AFTERNOON. W SWELL 7 FT AT 14 SECONDS. SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 13 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
--
"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

1/28 Elwha blast, Chickamauga, Steveston grounding, sewage spill, Lolita, Tesoro blast, beavers, Bill Holm

Marine debris Gray Whale (PHOTO: Helen Engle)

Thank you, Pete Seeger. Pete Seeger, Folk Music Icon And Activist, Dies At 94
Pete Seeger, "a tireless campaigner for his own vision of a utopia marked by peace and togetherness," died Monday at the age of 94.

Check this out: Dyes Inlet Gray Whale Exhibit
Helen Engle forwarded photos a life-size Gray Whale made totally of marine debris from Dyes Inlet by Olympic College students. "The display is on the ground floor of the Capitol, south side — with posters telling about the problems caused by debris in the water. It’s a very effective display,” Helen wrote. “The photo was taken Saturday as we went into one of the meeting rooms for our all-day Wildlife Diversity Advisory Council session." Thanks, Helen, and thanks to the Olympic College students!

If you like to watch: Blast leaves only 35 feet of Glines Canyon Dam standing on the Elwha River
Glines Canyon Dam isn't gone yet. But it's becoming more difficult to spot the remnants under the rubble. Demolition crews set off about 2,000 pounds of explosives packed into a concrete stub of the formerly 212-foot-tall dam at 5:20 p.m. Sunday. It reduced it from a height of about 55 feet to about 35 feet. Arwyn Rice reports. (See John Gussman's video )

If you like to watch: “Exceptional, Spooky and Beautiful” Moments With Birds: Dennis Hlynsky’s Creepy Nature Videos
If, by some stretch of the imagination, the end timers have it right, I hope artist Dennis Hlynsky will consider setting up his tripod as demons spew forth from the earth’s crust. His small brains en masse project has me convinced that he is the perfect person to capture such an event. Have a look at how he documents the comings and goings of birds. Ayun Halliday blogs.

Troubled tugboat becomes property of the state, tow expected this week
The removal of the derelict tugboat that currently sits in Eagle Harbor is now the state's problem. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has officially taken custody of the "Chickamauga," the vessel that sank in Eagle Harbor in early October and leaked approximately 200 to 300 gallons of diesel fuel into Puget Sound. The state seized the historic tugboat Thursday, Jan. 16, following an announcement by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark of the filing of charges against the owner Anthony R. Smith the day before. Luciano Morano reports.

No damage after container ship runs aground in Steveston
A container vessel ran aground in the Steveston area Sunday morning, prompting Transportation Safety Board of Canada inspectors to rush to the scene. The ship, Cap Blanche, was quickly set afloat and the vessel was not damaged. A spokesman for the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria said, there was no damage or cargo spilled into the waterway in the mishap.

Water quality alert ends at Chambers Creek park
A warning advisory to stay out of the saltwater at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place was lifted Monday after test results showed water quality was normal, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said. Red “Closed” signs at the park’s beach off Grandview Avenue were removed Monday. Pierce County officials on Friday had warned people to stay out of the waters off the park after 200,000 gallons of “partially disinfected” sewage accidentally were discharged into Puget Sound. The discharge occurred Wednesday after a mechanical failure at the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Plant.  Steve Maynard reports.

Event January 30: Celebrate Springer! The true story of how an orphaned orca went home
Mark Sears and Donna Sandstrom discuss Springer and the fate of our whales: 7 PM, C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave., Seattle; $5 donation, kids free, Brown Paper Tickets. 

If you like to watch: Lolita Endangered Orca
News clip from the Way of Whales Saturday workshop announcing the federal government's decision to protect the captive killer whale Lolita under the Endangered Species Act. Stephan Michaels video.

Report on Tesoro refinery blast delay
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has delayed finalizing its investigative report into an April 2010 explosion that killed seven workers at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, prompting criticism from its own members and others. The federal agency said last month it would vote on a final investigation report at a public meeting Thursday in Anacortes. The board, which investigates chemical industrial accidents, is charged with making safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents. Last week, it canceled a vote on a final report. Instead, it will hold a community-listening session and then take public comment during a 45-day period. Phuong Le reports.

Locals to Golden Gardens beavers: Please leave
Ballard locals say beavers have cut numerous trees and devastated two scenic ponds at Golden Gardens Park. It’s their natural habitat and they can stay, parks officials respond. Erik Lacitis reports.

Meet Bill Holm, local Native Americans' great artist ally
The artist and academic has dedicated his life to northwest coast Native American art, culture and customs. How his openness has opened doors. Joseph Sutton-Holcomb reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST TUE JAN 28 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY
 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT FROM NOON PST TODAY THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR LESS IN THE AFTERNOON. W
 SWELL 10 FT AT 14 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 8 FT AT 13 SECONDS. RAIN.
--
"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

1/27 Lolita ESA, steelhead suit, tank cars, radiation, Asarco cleanup, China coal, deChadenedes, Cedar Grove, eating goeducks

44 Years A Captive (PHOTO: Associated Press)

Feds want endangered status for captive orca Lolita
The federal government wants Lolita — the orca snared 44 years ago in Penn Cove by whale hunters who sold her to a Florida aquarium — protected under the Endangered Species Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Friday reversed itself and recommended the killer whale held by the Miami Seaquarium be governed by the same law that protects Puget Sound’s wild southern resident killer whales. The move could have implications for other endangered species held by zoos and aquariums and almost certainly will lead to a re-evaluation of the conditions of Lolita’s captivity, which activists have complained about for years. Craig Welch reports. See also: Feds Seek Public Comment on Captive Orca Lolita

Puget Sound conservation group intends to sue state over introduced steelhead
Wild Fish Conservancy, a Puget Sound conservation group, has sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, claiming the agency’s planting of “Chambers Creek” steelhead in Puget Sound watersheds violates the federal Endangered Species Act. “It just doesn’t make any sense. It’s a known fact these fish are harmful to wild steelhead, and they have no authority to plant them,” Kurt Beardslee, executive director of Wild Fish Conservancy, said Friday after the intent to sue was sent Thursday. The suit seeks to have the practice stopped, saying the plantings harm wild Puget Sound steelhead, wild Puget Sound chinook and bull trout, all three listed as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Joe Smillie reports.

Railroad tank-car safety woes date decades before crude oil concerns
Long before crude oil and ethanol were transported by railroads in large quantities in minimally reinforced tank cars, other flammable and poisonous materials were riding around the country in the same cars, threatening major cities and waterways. Federal regulators might be weeks away from issuing new safety guidelines for tank cars carrying flammable liquids, after a series of frightening rail accidents over the past six months. But the type of general-service tank car involved in recent incidents with crude oil trains in Quebec, Alabama and North Dakota – the DOT-111-A – has a poor safety record with hazardous cargoes that goes back decades, raising questions about why it took so long for the railroad industry and its federal regulators to address a problem they knew how to fix. Curtis Tate reports.

The scientific view on Fukushima radiation in Washington waters
Al Bergstein writes: "Over the last year, and accelerating in the last week, we’ve seen a flurry of articles on the radiation from the leaking Fukushima plant, and it’s supposed effects on west coast sea life. As I personally am very concerned about it, and I represent the environmental community on the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee, I decided to look into this myself. Through contacts I was able to reach Mike Priddy, of the Washington State Department of Health. My contacts all said that Mike is a person who can be trusted to provide honest and thorough information about issues he is involved in.... Mike has yet to find any radioactivity that can be traced to Fukushima in Washington waters. That includes washed up debris..."

State legislators like chances for toxics bill in Senate
The three North Olympic Peninsula legislators are hopeful a bill banning certain carcinogenic flame retardants from child products and upholstered furniture will make it through the state Senate after a strong showing in the House last week. House Bill 1294, also dubbed the toxics bill or the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act, passed the state House of Representatives 72-25 last Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, would prohibit the sale, manufacture and distribution of children’s products and upholstered furniture containing a type of chemical flame retardant known as Tris. Jeremy Schwartz reports.

State takes over cleanup effort of Asarco-tainted properties
The area surrounding the old Asarco smelter in Ruston will see a renewed cleanup effort this year now that the state Department of Ecology has officially been given control of the project. For 20 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency controlled restoration efforts, including sampling soil and spearheading cleanup of residential yards in Ruston and north Tacoma that were contaminated by the former copper smelter. The handoff to the state means people living in the affected area can expect a publicity push soon about the next round of cleanup and how to sign up to have soil tested. Brynn Grimley reports.

China’s appetite for coal appears healthy, for now
It was only last November that Greenpeace turned to a new weapon in fighting the proposed coal export-related projects in the Pacific Northwest (including those in B.C.): economic analysis. That was when Calvin Quek, Greenpeace East Asia’s head of sustainable finance program, warned North American media that China’s decade-long march toward higher coal consumption may be coming to an end — and Canadian projects intending to export to that market may be at risk of becoming obsolete. This month, Quek and fellow environmental trends researcher Clark William-Derry (programs director with the Sightline Institute) spoke to Vancouver media, again stressing that economic reality in China may not support more coal exports intended for the Asian giant (which accounts for half of world’s coal consumption). But as the latest data shows, coal exporters may have plenty of analytical ammunition to fire back at critics — at least when it comes to the economic viability of exporting coal to China. Chuck Chiang reports.

deChadenedes named manager of SJIs National Monument
Marcia deChadenedes is now the full-time manager of the San Juan Islands National Monument. She was named manager of the nation's newest national monuments Jan. 23 by Bureau of Land Management Spokane District Manager Daniel Picard... deChadenedes earned a master's degree at the University of Oregon, in Eugene. The BLM manages 980 acres of lands within the San Juan Archipelago, which became one of the nation's newest National Monument through a Proclamation signed by President Obama on March 25, 2013. The National Monument includes BLM lands in San Juan, Whatcom and Skagit Counties. deChadenedes is scheduled to report to the Lopez Island BLM office March 9.

River-delta stink: Humans, sensors smell it differently
A study of odors in the Snohomish River Delta — including the target of many complaints in recent years, Cedar Grove composting — has yielded mixed results. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's $375,000 study was conducted over 13 months through November using electronic odor monitors and the observations of 11 volunteers. The volunteers and the monitors differ in their impressions. Bill Sheets reports.

Developing A Taste For Geoduck In The Northwest
The Locavore movement is thriving in the Northwest — with one big exception. When it comes to Puget Sound geoduck clams, the shellfish industry and local chefs are still trying to create a demand for them at home. Geoduck clams from Washington state are prized in Asia, creating a lucrative market for the Puget Sound region’s tribal and commercial shellfish harvesters. But two months ago, China banned all shellfish imports from most of the West Coast after finding high levels of arsenic in a sample from Washington. The move has hit Washington hard, particularly the geoduck industry. And that has the industry turning to local chefs to help boost demand close to home. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA 300 AM PST MON JAN 27 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 14 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. SW SWELL 6 FT AT 14 SECONDS. A
 CHANCE OF RAIN...THEN RAIN LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
--
"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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1/24 Geoduck farm, train safety, ocean acid, Fraser tug, Skagit water, herons, Pebble Mine, exploding toilets

Sandstone shoreline, Gabriola Is. (Laurie MacBride)

Subtle Hues, Fragile Shores
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Our mostly grey west-coast winters tend to have little in the way of colour – so instead, we learn to appreciate the subtle textures and monochromatic hues that dominate this season...."

State repeals permit on geoduck farm
A state panel has overturned a Pierce County permit allowing a commercial geoduck farm on Henderson Bay between Purdy and Key Peninsula. The state Shorelines Hearings Board cited potential harm to eelgrass and the safety threat to windsurfers in overruling a county hearing examiner’s approval of the permit for a 5-acre farm. In its 58-page ruling Wednesday, the board sided with ecological and recreational concerns in rejecting the permit for Chelsea Farms, the first geoduck farming permit for Henderson Bay. Steve Maynard reports.

NTSB pushes regulators to improve safety of crude oil trains
The National Transportation Safety Board called Thursday for federal regulators to take more aggressive steps to protect the public and the environment from oil spills and fires from trains. The NTSB, an independent agency that makes recommendations but has no regulatory powers, asked the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to develop oil-spill response plans that account for the large volumes of crude oil now moving by rail. It urged regulators to identify routes for such shipments that would avoid population centers and environmentally sensitive areas. It also said regulators should make sure that crude oil, especially from North Dakota’s Bakken region, was properly classified to reflect its higher level of hazard. After intense fires following derailments in Quebec, Alabama and North Dakota, regulators concluded that the Bakken crude, which is extracted from shale rock through hydraulic fracturing, is more volatile than conventional oils. Curtis Tate reports.

Sea Change: Struggling with next steps
When U.S. Rep. Brian Baird tried a few years ago to get his colleagues to put more money toward ocean-acidification research, few even understood the issue. One congressman, Baird said, confused souring seas with acid rain, and asked, “Didn’t we deal with that 20 years ago?” The corrosion of the oceans by carbon-dioxide emissions has barely made a ripple among Washington, D.C.’s power brokers. Little money gets earmarked for research. Ocean change has inspired few stabs at curbing CO2. In fact, aside from West Coast lawmakers and scattered others from coastal regions, few in Congress seem to grasp the scale of the challenge, said current and retired lawmakers from both parties. Craig Welch reports. So West Coast states, led by Washington, are now forging ahead largely on their own. Craig Welch reports.

Teen wants to make a difference by pushing bills for state oyster
A 14-year-old student wants to designate a state oyster and bring awareness to the threat of ocean acidification. She also wants other young people to know they can participate in government. Ashley Stewart reports.

Sinking tugboat leaks minimal fuel into the Fraser River  
A converted tugboat that sank near Richmond, B.C. on Wednesday night leaked a minimal amount of fuel into the Fraser River. A witness named Brian said the 52-foot tugboat was anchored in the channel between Graybar Pier and Annacis Island. Somehow the anchor became loose and the boat started drifting with the tide, eventually colliding with a piling.... Now there is a debate over what to do with the boat — and who will pay for the clean up.

Proposed pilot project could bring water relief to frustrated landowners
A pilot project to store and release water could give landowners in the Carpenter-Fisher sub-basin the ability to build on their properties. The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe is sponsoring the study of a possible project in the Fisher Creek sub-basin that would store water during times of high stream flow in the Skagit River. The reserved water would be released during drier periods to increase water flow and offset landowner use. An October 2013 ruling by the state Supreme Court reverted current law to a 2001 rule that established a certain water level for the Skagit River. The ruling left thousands of landowners without a clear, uninterruptable source of water. Rachel Lerman reports.

New camera coming for March Point heron rookery
In the forest land of March Point between Fidalgo and Padilla bays, Skagit County is home to one of the largest groups of nesting great blue herons on the West Coast. Skagit Land Trust protects 3.5 acres in the area called the March Point Heronry, where an estimated 500 nests sit high in the trees. Public access is not allowed there because of habitat sensitivity, but in 2006 the installation of a wildlife camera connected people to the majestic birds that thrive along Skagit’s shore with live video in Bay View at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and on the Reserve’s website. The solar-powered camera quit transmitting last spring, cutting off ties between the reserve and the birds. But the Trust recently secured grants to purchase and install an upgraded version. Kimberly Cauvel reports.

Cantwell asks Obama to limit mining in Bristol Bay
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell is asking President Barack Obama to take action to restrict or prohibit the development of large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed. In a letter sent Thursday, Cantwell asked Obama to invoke a rarely used authority under the federal Clean Water Act to protect the region that is home to the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. The Democratic senator says thousands of jobs in Washington state are tied to Bristol Bay salmon fishing. She, fishermen and others are rallying against the proposed Pebble Mine Thursday in Seattle.

Exploding toilets: High-pressure flush part is recalled
Watch out for exploding toilets. Flushmate, the maker of a high-pressure flushing system sold at Home Depot and Lowe's, is expanding its recall of the parts, because they can burst near a seam with force enough to shatter the toilet tank. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Thursday that the company is recalling 351,000 units in the U.S. and about 9,400 units in Canada of the Series 503 Flushmate 111 Pressure Assist flushing systems installed inside toilet tanks that were made from March 2008 through June 2009.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 224 AM PST FRI JAN 24 2014
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. COMBINED SEAS 8 TO 11 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 17 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 15 SECONDS.
SAT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. NW SWELL 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS.
SUN
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW SWELL 5 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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

1/23 Oil trains, BC pipes, Fuse WA, Discover Pass, water rule, invasive mussels, Navy shooting, manure spill, Chesapeake runoff, Celebrate Springer

Freight train derailment, Schuylkill River, PA (NBC)

New Legislation Calls For Transparency On Oil Moving Through Washington
Washington lawmakers took up a proposal Wednesday to require more transparency from companies that transport oil through the state. The hearing on House Bill 2347 played out before a packed committee room in Olympia. The new bill would require oil companies to file weekly reports with the state Department of Ecology detailing how much oil is being transported, what kind of oil it is, how it’s being moved and what route it’s traveling through the state. Right now oil companies aren’t required to share any specific information with state agencies about how much oil is traveling the railways. Ashley Ahearn reports. See also if you can get behind the paywall: Rolfes' bill addresses future of oil transport

Gitga'at Northern Gateway lawsuit joins 9 other challenges
he Gitga'at First Nation in British Columbia has filed a court challenge to the federal review panel recommendation in favour of the Northern Gateway pipeline, bringing to 10 the number of applications filed in Vancouver against the project. The small community centred around Hartley Bay on the north coast said its way of life would be severely threatened by the bitumen-laden tankers that would navigate Douglas Channel on their doorstep. In applications filed this week with both the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, the band asks for a judicial review of the Joint Review Panel's decision.

Number of people undecided on Trans Mountain pipeline nearly triples in a year: poll
The percentage of British Columbians who are undecided about Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has grown dramatically in a year, according to new survey by Insights West. Asked directly, 48 per cent of all British Columbians say they support the proposed expansion while 43 per cent oppose it. Those levels are about the same as a year ago, according to Mario Canseco, vice-president of public affairs for Insights West. But what has changed is the percentage of undecideds, which has more than tripled to 11 from three per cent between this month and January of last year. (Figures have been rounded up to the nearest whole percentage point.)...The survey found that there continues to be a wide gender gap on the Kinder Morgan project. The online survey found that 58 per cent of men support the project but only 37 per cent of women. Also, 39 per cent of younger British Columbians, aged 18 to 34, support the pipeline compared to 43 per cent of those aged 35 to 54, and 55 per cent of those aged 55 and older. In the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, 49 per cent of residents support the expansion compared to 39 per cent are opposed. On Vancouver Island, only 36 per cent are in favour. Kevin Griffin reports.

Wealthy Donors Fund Never-Ending ‘Progressive’ Campaign In Washington State
You’ve heard of Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and other issue advocacy groups that don’t have to disclose their donors. They are transforming American politics. These political nonprofits also exist at the state level. But much of this activity is coming from the left, not the right. And instead of TV ad campaigns, the work is largely happening online and on the ground. The tenant list of the Vance Building in downtown Seattle is a type of who’s-who of “progressive nonprofits.” In fact, you might think of this building as the headquarters of the progressive movement in Washington. Up on the third floor of this building, you’ll find the most visible member of this network: an organization called Fuse Washington. Austin Jenkins reports.

Discover Pass called success, but Republicans disagree
Washington’s pay-to-play system for its state recreation lands is working, officials say... But Republican budget writers don’t see a future in charging visitors the $30-a-year parking fee. “It’s had varying degrees of success, but significant voter response that this is really a hassle,” Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Andy Hill said Wednesday.... Hill, R-Redmond, and others in the Senate majority have thrown their support behind a proposal to all but abolish the Discover Pass — making it voluntary — and find alternative ways to pay for parks...The Senate proposal as it exists now, however, relies on extending an expiring fee. It makes permanent a $10 fee on the recording of real-estate documents. That money now pays for housing for the homeless, but under this plan would go to recreation agencies. Jordan Schrader reports.

Olympic Resource Protection Council petitions for Dungeness Water Rule overhaul
The Olympic Resource Protection Council has petitioned the state Department of Ecology for a major overhaul of the Dungeness Water Rule, the year-old plan for water management in the Dungeness River basin. Greg McCarry, a member of the building industry-backed council, said the petition was filed Tuesday as an effort to negotiate with Ecology to make changes to what he said is a “draconian” application of the rule that adversely affects property owners... Instead of using the water rule to “protect” the watershed, the council claims in its petition, Ecology crafted it to “enhance” the river's natural environment by mandating water levels in the river meet “optimum” standards. McCarry said the agency's flow projections were based on a biological ideal that would allow fish to travel upriver unimpeded. “We're not opposed to fish. We love fish,” McCarry said. “But the state also needs to consider the needs of property owners.”  Joe Smillie reports.

State bill would help Whatcom County, Bellingham handle mussel threat
Companion bills in the state House and Senate would expand the state's authority to stop boaters from importing invasive mussels. As the bill works its way through the state Legislature, Whatcom County and Bellingham officials will decide how to fine-tune their own boat-inspection program, started last year, to prevent zebra and quagga mussels from entering Lake Whatcom. County Council members appear to favor including canoes and kayaks in the mandatory inspections this year. If approved, a $10 fee would be charged to kayakers and canoeists for a season pass.... Senate Bill 6040 and House Bill 2458, which are identical, would enable Department of Fish & Wildlife officers to inspect any type of watercraft, or anything else that could transport invasive species, down to fishing gear. The state could quarantine a lake found to be infected with invasive mussels, and take emergency actions to eradicate the invaders. How much the department would be able to exercise the additional authority would depend on funding. Ralph Schwartz reports.

U.S. navy exercise alarms whale watchers
A routine U.S. navy exercise on Whidbey Island sparked a furor when a whale-watching association mistakenly reported that rounds were being fired into the water near endangered southern resident orcas. The Pacific Whale Watch Association, which represents U.S. and Canadian whale-watching businesses, issued a statement Tuesday night with the headline War Games Among Whales. In it, the group said U.S. sailors were shooting .50-calibre rounds from ships into the water as orcas were swimming nearby... In fact, navy personnel from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island were taking part in monthly small-arms practice on shore, using 9-mm rounds fired at targets on land, said spokesman Mike Welding... Michael Harris, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, said he based his report on information from a U.S. tour boat operator who was in the area. The group corrected its statement Wednesday afternoon to say that live rounds were fired from shore. Sandra McCulloch reports. See also: Weapons training on Whidbey draws rebuke from whale-watch association

Manure spill leads to $6,000 fine for Custer dairy
An October 2013 manure spill that led to a week-long closure of shellfish harvesting has resulted in a possible $6,000 fine to a Whatcom County dairy. The state Department of Agriculture reports it cited Pomeroy Dairy in Custer for the spill that raised fecal coliform levels in nearby California Creek. The department says the dairy worked to contain the spill but did not report it immediately. State investigators say the spill was caused by a malfunctioning valve operating the manure lagoon. The malfunction sent manure to a pipe that was out of service. An analysis found fecal coliform bacteria at elevated levels as far as 5 miles downstream. Also found were about 30 dead fish.

Polluted Runoff: How Investing in Runoff Pollution Control Systems Improves the Chesapeake Bay Region's Ecology, Economy, and Health, A CBF Investigative Report  
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation report details the problems created by suburban and urban runoff pollution. And it offers steps that local, state, and federal governments can take to reduce pollution and achieve clean water for local streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Upcoming: Celebrate Springer! The true story of how an orphaned orca went home
In January 2002, the orphaned orca Springer (A-73) was discovered in Puget Sound - lost, alone, and 300 miles away from home. Five months later, she was rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to her pod near the north end of Vancouver Island. In July 2013, she was seen with her first calf! Mark Sears and Donna Sandstrom discuss Springer and the fate of our whales: January 30, 7 PM, C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave., Seattle; $5 donation, kids free, Brown Paper Tickets. See: The true story of how an orphaned whale went home

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 210 AM PST THU JAN 23 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 16 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 19 SECONDS.

--
"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

1/22 Oil trains, geoducks, salmon, West Bay spill, Vic sewage, beer cruise, fishery survey, blower ban, bee killer

Infographic by protectwhatcom.org

Power plant engine tumbles off truck into Port Westward oil tanker  
A large engine for a new power plant under construction near Clatskanie fell off a truck Tuesday morning and struck a fully loaded railroad crude oil tanker, but no oil was spilled, several sources said. No injuries were reported. The incident took place around 8 a.m. at the construction site of a new Portland General Electric power plant at Port Westward. The engine was one of 12 German-built units that were shipped to the Port of Longview and then barged downstream to a staging area at the construction site during the last two weeks, PGE spokeswoman Brianne Hyder said. Crews were moving one of the engines on a flat-bed trailer when it fell off and crashed into the crude oil tanker parked on an adjacent railroad track, Hyder said. The tanker was not badly damaged and no oil was spilled. The tankers hold 28,000 gallons of oil when fully loaded. Andre Stepankowsky  reports.

Empower oil transport safety as rail traffic grows
As oil shipments soar across the United States, a bill in the state Legislature would provide communities with basic oil traffic information. Lance Dickey opines.

Do Something: Environmental Priorities Coalition
The Environmental Priorities Coalition proposes this Washington legislative session two straightforward, commonsense opportunities for progress: closing a tax loophole that benefits Big Oil and the Oil Transportation Safety Act, which will protect our communities from the increasing threat of oil spills. Stand up, speak out.

Chinese ban on shellfish still hurting Washington economy
A Chinese ban on U.S. shellfish imports has hit Washington state shellfish growers, and so far, there’s no end in sight. Since a ban was imposed on shellfish imports from the West Coast in December, Washington state has lost $976,000 in revenue, said Matthew Randazzo, senior advisor to the Commissioner of Public Lands... Since the Department of Health was alerted of the shellfish ban in early December, Washington state shellfish growers have been missing out on thousands of dollars of revenue. Washington geoducks account for half of the worldwide market. The ban comes at a critical point in the shellfish harvest calendar. The Chinese New Year occurs on January 31, and Washington growers heavily depend on the revenue from shellfish sales during this time. Annaliese Davis reports.

If you like to listen: Before Salmon Was King, Before Salmon Was Greed
KUOW begins a series called “Sacred Catch.” It explores the fishing rights of Native Americans in Washington state. Producer Jeff Emtman went to Bellingham to visit members of the Lummi Tribe to find out the role fishing plays in their way of life.

Fishmonger's Tests Prove There's No Need To Worry About Radiation In Pacific Salmon
Scientists have said it's safe to eat fish caught in the Pacific Ocean in the wake of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, but rumors continue to circulate on the Internet.  To quell these false claims and put consumers at ease, a Seattle fish company has conducted independent tests to prove Pacific salmon is safe for consumption. Pete Knutson is a co-owner and founder of Loki Fish Company. He and his son sell their wild-caught Alaskan salmon directly to consumers at farmers markets in Seattle. Bellamy Pailthorp reports.

Department of Ecology investigates oil and soap spill at West Bay Marina
The Department of Ecology is investigating an oil spill in Olympia's West Bay Marina. An extensive oil sheen and strong diesel fuel odors were reported late Sunday at the marina, 2100 West Bay Drive. The department estimates the spill's volume between 20 and 50 gallons of oil. As of Tuesday afternoon, the department had not yet located the source of the spill. Andy Hobbs reports.

Better communication needed on sewage plans, Esquimalt mayor says  
Sewage is a regional concern and the Capital Regional District needs to do a better job of keeping everyone up to speed on its plans, Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said Tuesday. She made the comment following a marathon meeting Monday during which Esquimalt council gave second reading to a revised rezoning application for McLoughlin Point, where the CRD plans to build a regional wastewater treatment plant.  Sandra McCulloch reports.

Whales and ales? Line touts 'beer cruise' from Seattle
Small ship adventure line Un-Cruise Adventures is hoping to tap the craft beer movement with a new beer-themed voyage out of Seattle. The one-week sailing on the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer will kick off on May 3 and combine an adventurous exploration of Washington's whale-filled Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands with nightly beer tastings with experts on the Seattle beer scene. Gene Sloan reports.

Survey for Puget Sound fisheries offers prize
The public is invited to take an online survey regarding a state Department of Fish and Wildlife program for Puget Sound fisheries — and enter to win a fishing rod and reel. The survey will be available through March 31, and anyone 13 or older is encouraged to participate. The winner of the drawing will be announced in April. The survey is intended to gauge public understanding of the agency’s Puget Sound Recreational Salmon and Marine Fish Enhancement Program. The survey can be accessed at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/psrfef/survey.html.

Sen. Ranker wants to replace state agencies' leaf-blowers with brooms, rakes
State Sen. Kevin Ranker introduced a bill Tuesday to bar Washington state agencies from using gasoline-powered leaf blowers, saying they are noisy and emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. The Democrat from Orcas Island said the state “needs to lead” with policies that are in line with state goals on climate change. “These things are noisy and they also release significant greenhouse gases,” Ranker said. Brad Shannon reports.

Study: Mutating virus may be killing honeybees
A rapidly mutating virus has leapt from plants to honeybees, where it is reproducing and contributing to the collapse of colonies vital to the multibillion-dollar agricultural industry, according to a new study. Michael Wines reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST WED JAN 22 2014
TODAY
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 14 SECONDS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF DRIZZLE THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT...RISING TO 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 13 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG AFTER
 MIDNIGHT.
--
"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

1/21 Seahawk, Orion, quakes, BC LNG, China pollution, oil train spills, sea star survey

PHOTO: Mark Schiffler/BirdNote

What Is a Seahawk?
The first Seattle Seahawk to storm the field during home games isn’t the head coach or the quarterback -- it isn’t even human. It’s Taima, a captive-bred Augur Hawk that has accompanied the team before every home game since 2007. She is a beautiful representative of a species from the aridlands of East Africa, hardly a hawk of the sea. So, what is a “Seahawk”? Adam Sedgley ponders.

If you like to watch: The Unknown Sea: A Voyage on the Salish
By Deep Green Wilderness, a sailboat-based education program that introduces students to the biological and cultural diversity of the Salish Sea through voyages on our historic ship Orion and documentary filmmaking.

How Smaller, Off-Coast Quakes Could Badly Shake BC
A new scientific study indicates that southwestern B.C. faces some little-understood threats from earthquakes -- not just from the Big One, but from weaker quakes occurring within 100 kilometres of Vancouver. The implications for construction safety codes could be important, especially for the seismic retrofit program that's been strengthening B.C. schools. The report, published today in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, finds that the geology of the Georgia Basin tends to slow down waves from nearby crustal earthquakes, causing longer, more intense shaking. The basin underlies the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, as well as Puget Sound, and much of Greater Vancouver is built on it. Crawford Kilian reports. Also see: Earthquakes amplified in silty Vancouver basin: study

B.C. First Nations warns Premier Clark to consult aboriginals on LNG development
A British Columbia First Nation says the provincial government is dragging its feet when it comes to consulting with aboriginal people about proposed liquefied natural gas developments, including revenue sharing.

China’s exports include pollution to Western U.S.
Filthy emissions from China’s export industries are carried across the Pacific Ocean and contribute to air pollution in the Western United States, according to a paper published Monday by a prominent U.S. science journal. The research is the first to quantify how air pollution in the United States is affected by China’s production of goods for export and by global consumer demand for those goods, the authors say. It was written by nine scholars based in three nations and was published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which last year published a paper by other researchers that found a drop in life spans in Northern China because of air pollution. The latest paper explores the environmental consequences of interconnected economies. Edward Wong reports.

More oil spilled from trains in 2013 than in previous 4 decades, federal data show
More crude oil was spilled in U.S. rail incidents last year than was spilled in the nearly four decades since the federal government began collecting data on such spills, an analysis of the data shows. Including major derailments in Alabama and North Dakota, more than 1.15 million gallons of crude oil was spilled from rail cars in 2013, according to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. By comparison, from 1975 to 2012, U.S. railroads spilled a combined 800,000 gallons of crude oil. The spike underscores new concerns about the safety of such shipments as rail has become the preferred mode for oil producers amid a North American energy boom. The federal data does not include incidents in Canada where oil spilled from trains. Curtis Tate reports.

Feiro Marine Life Center of Port Angeles seeks help for Sunday sea star survey
The Feiro Marine Life Center is seeking volunteers to help monitor a disease affecting sea stars on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sea star wasting disease survey is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, with volunteers meeting at the Freshwater Bay boat ramp for training. Volunteers will be told how to identify different sea stars and given instruction on conducting the survey, which is expected to take two or three hours, before spreading out to the east and west to look for infected sea stars. Arwyn Rice reports.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST TUE JAN 21 2014
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 20 KT EARLY THIS MORNING THEN 5 TO 15 KT THIS AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4
 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR THIS AFTERNOON. W SWELL 9 FT AT 16 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 15 SECONDS...BUILDING TO 9 FT AT 14 SECONDS AFTER MIDNIGHT. A CHANCE
 OF RAIN OR DRIZZLE.
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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.

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