8/19 Spirit, OR coal, Smith Island salmon, tree-top protest, oil trains

Spirit (PHOTO: Vancouver Aquarium/CBC)

Springer the killer whale's first calf named Spirit
The first calf of Springer the orphaned killer whale, the only orca ever successfully rescued and reunited with its pod, finally has a name — Spirit. Springer, a member of B.C.'s A-4 pod of northern resident killer whales, made a name for herself in 2002 after she was spotted sick and alone near Seattle. (CBC)

Oregon Denies Permit For Controversial Coal Export Dock
Oregon regulators announced Monday they will not issue a permit for a controversial coal export dock in Boardman. The announcement follows a fight between the Morrow Pacific coal export project developer Ambre Energy and Columbia River tribes over tribal fishing at the proposed dock site…. In a news release Monday, the [Oregon Department of State Lands] announced it determined that the Morrow Pacific project “is not consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the state’s water resources, and that the applicant did not provide sufficient analysis of alternatives that would avoid construction of a new dock and impacts on tribal fisheries.” Cassandra Profita reports. (EarthFix)  See also: Coal export plan suffers setback in Oregon  Floyd McKay reports. (Crosscut) And also: Environmentalists vow to continue fight in Whatcom after Oregon coal terminal is rejected  Ralph Schwartz reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Salmon and Smith Island
Count Naeem Iqbal among the skeptics of an ambitious project to revive salmon habitat in the Snohomish River at the expense of farmland. The organic farmer worries that Snohomish County could ruin his nascent business of growing pesticide-free produce. Iqbal believes saltwater could infiltrate his soil, among other problems, if the county floods some 350 acres of agricultural ground it owns next door to him on Smith Island. Despite his misgivings, Iqbal’s Hima Nursery and two other businesses are preparing to drop a legal fight against the county’s Smith Island project. In exchange, they’re getting a string of guarantees that the $19.2 million dike removal won’t harm their businesses. Noah Haglund reports. (Everett Herald)

Bainbridge teen staging tree sit-in to protest planned development
A Bainbridge Island teen is staging a sit-in on a platform 70 feet up in a tree to protest the planned development of a commercial complex on the island. Chiara D’Angelo, 19, climbed the tree Monday morning at the future construction site of the 62,000 square foot mixed-use development. Opponents say the tree is one of 830 that will be clear-cut to make way for the complex being built by Ohio-based developer Visconsi Companies. The development, planned for Highway 305 and High School Road, will likely include a Key Bank, Bartell Drugs and a medical office facility. Paige Cornwell reports. (Seattle Times)

Oregon Senators, Fire Chiefs See Gaps In Proposed Oil Train Rules
Local fire chiefs joined Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley on Monday in their push to expand proposed federal safety rules for oil trains. For months, the senators have been arguing the federal Department of Transportation’s safety efforts shortchange emergency responders on information about what hazardous materials are moving through their community. Fire chiefs from the Eugene area shared these concerns and more at a roundtable discussion with railroads, elected officials and the deputy administrator of the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Tony Schick reports. (EarthFix)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT TUE AUG 19 2014
TODAY
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...BECOMING 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 7 SECONDS. AREAS OF DRIZZLE
 OR FOG IN THE MORNING.
TONIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SW TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 9 SECONDS.

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