6/24 Northern lights, BC LNG, Shell drill, garburators, Vic sewer

(PHOTO: Jay Cline/Peninsula Daily News)

If you like to watch: Northern lights dazzle in Vancouver after unusual solar flares
Vancouverites caught a rare glimpse of the northern lights on Monday night, due to an unusually strong solar storm on the surface of the sun. The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are created by solar flares on the sun's surface that create gusts of solar winds that pass through the Earth's atmosphere causing particles to emit the brilliant colours. (CBC) See also: Aurora borealis lights leap up in North Olympic Peninsula skies

B.C. government plans rare summer legislature session for LNG deal
The B.C. government plans to have a rare summer sitting of the legislature to pass law changes that would clear the way for a controversial LNG facility near Prince Rupert. Finance Minister Mike de Jong announced Tuesday the legislature will be recalled on July 13, to debate legislation that would enable the project agreement signed between B.C. and Pacific NorthWest LNG, which is owned in majority by Malaysia's Petronas. Last month, Premier Christy Clark announced the agreement in principle with the energy giant to build a terminal on Lelu Island, south of Prince Rupert, which Clark said would mean $36 billion investment for the province. (CBC) See also: Petronas agrees to conduct more studies on B.C. terminal’s impact  (Globe and Mail)

Groups say Shell’s drilling plans don’t protect marine mammals
Environmental groups say that Shell’s plans for oil exploration this summer in the Chukchi Sea don’t comply with federal rules that seek to protect marine mammals. In a Tuesday letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, environmental groups said this represented a “fundamental flaw,” and that Shell should not be allowed to proceed with the summer drilling. The Interior Department’s 2013 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibit the drilling of wells within 15 miles of each other to minimize the cumulative effects of oil exploration on the walrus. The two wells that Shell wants to drill this summer are about 9 miles apart. (Seattle Times)

Metro Vancouver fears rising use of garburators will strain sewage plants
As Metro Vancouver prepares to impose fines to stop the dumping of organic food waste in the garbage, officials at the regional district now worry too many residents and businesses will instead use garburators to send the problem down the drain. As a result, Metro planners are now considering a ban on the installation of new food waste grinders by restaurants and other businesses, and they're mulling how to keep households from using garburators that are already widespread in newer homes. Using in-sink disposals to grind up food and flush it down the drain is convenient for people and businesses who don't have organic waste pickup service or don't want to use it. Jeff Nagel reports. (Peace Arch News)

Saanich rules out potential sewage-treatment site on ALR land
A 12-hectare property on Watkiss Way adjacent to Victoria General Hospital won’t be sent to the Capital Regional District for consideration as a sewage-treatment site, despite the urging of proponents who say it has strong potential. The privately owned forested rural property, part of the Agricultural Land Reserve, had to be vetted by Saanich council to be placed on the CRD’s list of possible sites, said Ray Parks, representing owner Allen Vandekerhove. Council voted 5-4 Monday night not to send the proposal to the CRD. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 830 PM PDT TUE JUN 23 2015
WED
LIGHT WIND BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 16 SECONDS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
WED NIGHT
NW WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 3 FT BUILDING TO 5 FT AT 11 SECONDS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

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