2/1 Cardiotoxicity, DAPL, Doug Ericksen, Kitsap sewage, 4Mth Puget Sounder

It's Spring!
Crocus is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family comprising 90 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. Crocuses are native to woodland, scrub, and meadows from sea level to alpine tundra in central and southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, on the islands of the Aegean, and across Central Asia to Xinjiang Province in western China. (Wikipedia)

Substance in crude oil harms fish hearts, could affect humans as well
Research from Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station has identified a substance in oil that's to blame for the cardiotoxicity seen in fish exposed to crude oil spills. More than a hazard for marine life exposed to oil, the contaminant this team identified is abundant in air pollution and could pose a global threat to human health. The pollutant at the center of this finding, phenanthrene, is a type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Due to widespread use of petroleum, PAHs are also found in land-based stormwater runoff, contaminated soil from defunct industrial sites and air pollution. PAHs have been investigated as cancer-causing chemicals for nearly a hundred years but other potential health effects have been given far less attention. The environmental health risks of phenanthrene, in particular, have received secondary consideration to other PAHs more strongly implicated in the development of cancer. Taylor Kubota reports. (Phys.org)

Army Corp told to approve Dakota pipeline easement 
The Army Corps of Engineers was ordered to allow construction of the Dakota Access pipeline to proceed under a disputed Missouri River crossing, North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven said on Tuesday, the latest twist in a months-long legal battle over the $3.8 billion project. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose opposition to the project attracted thousands of supporters from around the country to North Dakota, immediately vowed to again go to court to stop it. (Associated Press)

Ericksen confident he can work for both Senate and EPA, will take full salary
Since becoming communications director for the Environmental Protection Agency transition team, Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, has drawn criticism from some Whatcom County constituents who worry he isn’t dedicating enough attention to his elected duties in the state Legislature. Ericksen has missed at least 75 percent of the committee meetings he was scheduled to attend so far this legislative session, attending five meetings early in the session, and missing at least 17 as of Tuesday afternoon. He has not attended committee meetings since Jan. 12. Samantha Wohlfeil reports. (Bellingham Herald) See also: Sen. Ericksen, you can't be two places at one time  (Seattle Times Editorial Board)

Back-to-back Central Kitsap sewage spills worst in years
One of Kitsap’s largest sewage spills in years, plus a second smaller spill a day later, has polluted a Central Kitsap creek and forced the closure of waterways between Silverdale and Bremerton. The first spill occurred Sunday from a Kitsap County Public Works pump station under construction on Conifer Drive near the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. The spill released 90,000 gallons of sewage. Much of the sewage flowed into Mosher Creek, which is 30 feet from the station. Sewage polluted a 2-mile stretch of the creek before flowing out its mouth near Tracyton, contaminating Dyes Inlet and the Port Washington Narrows. The spill amount was initially reported at just 9,000 gallons. The Kitsap County Health District corrected the amount to 90,000 gallons on Tuesday. Tristan Baurick reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Welcome to the Puget Sound party, 4 millionth person
In case you hadn't noticed, our region has been growing fast. By this June, a major milestone will be official: The Puget Sound region’s population will be more than 4 million people. Carolyn Adolph reports. (KUOW)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  554 AM PST WED FEB 1 2017    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON    TODAY  E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. NW SWELL 3 FT  AT 9 SECONDS.
TONIGHT  E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 3 FT  AT 9 SECONDS.

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