9/22 WA lands vote, Trudeau on pipe, Tacoma LNG, gas lines, carbon tax, shellfish toxin

T. rex in the Salish Sea
A reader writes: "While looking at my Salish Sea map the other day, in my office, I noticed something I'd not seen before: The...corner of the Olympic Peninsula is a giant T-Rex with its breath blowing across Admiralty Inlet." [Actually, we thought Godzilla ate Tukwila...]

Candidate for DNR chief distances himself from Malheur refuge takeover
State commissioner of public lands candidate Steve McLaughlin distanced himself Wednesday from an organization that helped armed occupiers of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. In an interview with The Olympian’s Editorial Board, McLaughlin, a Republican, said he was involved with a coalition of lawmakers from several states calling for the release of imprisoned ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, who were convicted of arson for lighting fires on private property that spread to government land they had leased to graze cattle. But he said he wasn’t involved with the coalition’s efforts to help an armed group that took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon, in January to protest the Hammonds’ jailing. Walker Orenstein reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Justin Trudeau: Sticks to pipeline points as ‘consistent’ policy 
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hasn’t changed his views on the $7.9-billion Northern Gateway pipeline proposal, he said Wednesday. Trudeau was responding to comments by a senior Enbridge Inc. official a day earlier suggesting Ottawa has shown a willingness to support the megaproject if the environment and First Nations rights are respected. “Our government has been consistent from the very beginning, that Canadians need economic development while at the same time protecting the environment and the well-being of future generations,” Trudeau told Postmedia News at a news conference when asked about comments made by Northern Gateway president John Carruthers. “And that (has) not changed, that is what people expect us to be able to do.” Peter O'Neil reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Secret PSE-funded studies say LNG plant poses no off-site danger
The safety studies of potential spills, leaks and fires at Puget Sound Energy’s proposed Tacoma Tideflats liquid natural gas plant appear to back up the company’s contention the hazards wouldn’t reach across the site’s property lines. Records obtained by The News Tribune — including a plant siting study, a fire protection evaluation and a series of video models of plant accidents — contemplate incidents from bad to worse as part of explaining the potential risks of building the plant. PSE has fought public disclosure of the documents…. Although they contain no indications the facility constitutes a potential disaster for the broader city, they have become the most controversial records attached to the project. The studies were performed by Chicago Bridge & Iron, an engineering conglomerate based in the Netherlands, and its subcontractor Gexcon, a Norway-based fire and gas explosion safety company. Derrick Nunnally reports. (News Tribune)

State doesn’t keep track of old gas lines like the one in Greenwood
State regulators don’t keep records of abandoned gas lines like the Puget Sound Energy one that caused a Greenwood explosion in March. It’s not clear if PSE does either. Another company, Cascade Natural Gas, faces a $4 million fine for lax record-keeping. Bob Young and Vernal Coleman report. (Seattle Times)

Canada could meet emissions target without huge carbon tax: SFU professor
A new report says Canada could meet its emissions target under the Paris climate agreement without a hefty carbon tax. The carbon tax has been a contentious issue between the provinces and the federal government. Recently, the federal government announced it will impose carbon pricing on provinces that don't find a way to regulate carbon emissions themselves. Alberta and B.C. have adopted a carbon tax, while Ontario and Quebec have opted for a cap and trade policy. (CBC)

Eastern Kitsap shoreline hit with shellfish closure
Shellfish harvesting has been closed from Point White on Bainbridge Island south to the Pierce County border after high levels of marine biotoxins were detected. (Kitsap Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  302 AM PDT THU SEP 22 2016  

TODAY  SW WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND  WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
TONIGHT  SW WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SE AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND  WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW SWELL 3 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN  AFTER MIDNIGHT.

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