1/9 Eriksen's climate, Inslee's pollution, oil spill econ, Saanich oil spills

Ericksen cites climate skeptics on eve of Inslee carbon tax rollout
The globe is warming, the globe is cooling. The Antarctic ice sheet is growing, the ice sheet is shrinking. Which is right? It depends on whom you listen to. Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, is tuned to the frequency of the climate-change skeptics, and some well heeled ones at that. Ralph Schwartz reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Inslee's pollution solution: tackle water toxics at source
Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing legislation to protect state waters by tackling pollution at its source and giving a state agency the authority to potentially ban the worst chemicals in products before they get into the environment. The state is under pressure by the Environmental Protection Agency to update water quality standards that are partly tied to how much fish people eat. The state's draft rule is expected this month.... he's also pushing a toxics reduction bill this legislative session that would give the Department of Ecology new authority to identify chemicals that are most problematic and ban their use if safer alternatives are found. The 105-day session begins Monday. Phuong Le reports. (Associated Press)

Economic Impacts of an Oil Spill
The economic impacts of a major oil spill in this region would far exceed the estimates made to date…. Ecology estimates that a major oil spill in the state would cost 165,000 jobs and $10.8 billion in annual economic activity. However, these figures are undervalued because, in addition to being two years outdated, this estimate does not include any costs associated with the impacts of oil spills to privately owned shoreline and water-view properties. Lovel Pratt reports. (Whatcom Watch)

Two Saanich oil spills contained, officials say
Oil spills this week in Bowker Creek and the Gorge Waterway are under control, says Saanich’s director of engineering. … Diesel oil leaking from a residential tank is the confirmed cause in the Bowker Creek case and suspected in the Gorge spill. Machielse said some tanks in the municipality are decades old. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PST THU JAN 8 2015
FRI
SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT...EASING TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 15 SECONDS.
FRI NIGHT
SE WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 7 FT AT 14 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN.
SAT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
SUN
E WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 12 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