12/2 Oil trains, shoreline storm, reservation move, cold wave, Skagit water, coastal plan, BC pipes

Elwha River, 11/29/14 (Tom Roorda/Coastal Watershed Institute)

2014 Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study
The Washington Department of Ecology on MoNSy delivered a comprehensive report to state legislators outlining key recommendations to improve public safety in response to the rapid increase of oil transportation by rail through Washington state. The Legislature requested the study based on recent changes in how crude oil moves through rail corridors and Washington waters. The Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study focuses on developing recommendations to foster public health and safety, environmental protection, and respect for tribal treaty rights. (Department of Ecology) State report recommends better preparedness for oil-train accidents  John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Stanley Park seawall closed due to high tide, crashing waves  (The Province) Wind-tossed logs damage old boathouse at Point Defiance Marina  (News Tribune of Tacoma) Strong wind, waves damage Redondo Beach boardwalk  (Federal Way Mirror) ‘We were lucky': Edmonds Public Works Director says of weekend storm damage  (My Edmonds News) High winds, seas bash Fairhaven shoreline, destroy boat in Bellingham  (Bellingham Herald)

Flood concerns may force Sauk-Suiattle Tribe to move reservation
The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe has long been concerned about the Sauk River flooding near its reservation. A new report commissioned by the tribe forecasts the likely effects global warming will have on the reservation. Chris Winters reports. (Herald of Everett)

Northwest Cold Wave is California's Salvation
When sustained cold air moves into the Northwest, the frontal zone separating cold and warm air shift southward into California.   The temperature difference between the two air masses is associated with the jet stream, so it usually heads south at the same time.  Fronts bring clouds and rain.  So does the jet stream.   In short, with cold air dominating the Pacific Northwest, the frontal weather action and jet stream related storms head to California. Cliff Mass explains. (Weather Blog)

County backs S-W couple’s water claim
Richard and Marnie Fox have a right to use the well on their Sedro-Woolley property, regardless of an instream flow rule that limits water use in the Skagit Basin, Skagit County said in a response filed last Monday in Skagit County Superior Court. The document is in response to the Foxes’ motion asking the court to force the county to issue a building permit — an action the county has not taken because a Department of Ecology rule appears to say there is no legal access to water in much of rural Skagit County. In the response, the county argues that Ecology removed a paragraph from the draft 2001 instream flow rule before publication that would have allowed rural landowners to continue the use of permit-exempt wells for single homes. Daniel DeMay reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Surfrider survey, part of development of coastal use plan, highlights popularity of LaPush
The most popular coastal area from Port Angeles west on the North Olympic Peninsula is LaPush, and the most popular activity is beach walking, according to a Surfrider Foundation survey. A recreational use survey of more than 400 Washington state beachgoers revealed the most heavily used ocean and beach access locations from Port Angeles to the Columbia River, and the most popular activities, two Surfrider Foundation members told about 60 members of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Monday. Arwyn Rice reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

‘All Canadians will feel the pain’ if pipeline opportunities missed: Prentice
Alberta Premier Jim Prentice says Canada is running out of time to build four controversial pipelines to generate revenues that could pay for social services, but that the development agenda also has to protect the environment. At best, Canada has until between 2017 and 2019 to complete the energy projects or face “bottlenecks” without the best prices for oil sands product, he told the Vancouver Board of Trade in a speech on Monday. Ian Bailey reports. (Globe and Mail)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST TUE DEC 2 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
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