1/29 Juniper, fossil-fuel moratorium, BC LNG violations, Brinnon protest, SeaWorld orca death

Common juniper [Arnstein Ronning]

Common juniper Juniperus communis
Common juniper was considered an important medicine for interior peoples but it was not widely used on the Northwest Coast.... Juniper berries are commonly used in European cooking as a flavoring for soups, stews, cordials and gin. The species name communis means 'common,' which this species is over much of the globe. Common juniper is the only circumpolar comfier in the northern hemisphere. (Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast)

King County Council approves 6-month moratorium on major fossil-fuel facilities 
The King County Council on Monday approved a six-month moratorium on building or expanding major fossil-fuel infrastructure, joining other local governments in the Northwest with similar measures that aim to use local zoning laws to restrict fossil-fuel pipelines, storage facilities and other infrastructure. The ordinance, introduced by Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, disallows permitting for fossil-fuel projects in unincorporated King County. It also directs the county executive’s office to produce a survey of existing facilities, study those facilities’ impacts on communities, analyze the existing regulations that apply to them, recommend changes to regulations and permitting, and evaluate county-owned facilities for health impacts. The ordinance also declares a state of emergency. Evan Bush reports. (Seattle Times)

BC First Nation members say pipeline company removed cultural property
The British Columbia government says it will inspect the site of a planned natural gas pipeline southwest of Houston following allegations that the company building the project is violating its permits. Members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and supporters have alleged that Coastal GasLink is engaging in construction activity without an archaeological impact assessment and also destroyed traplines and tents unnecessarily. The Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources says in a statement that joint site inspection will be conducted by the province’s Environmental Assessment Office and the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission next week. Amy Smart reports. (Canadian Press)

Brinnon Group protests Jefferson County commissioners’ development decisions
Barbara Moore-Lewis, Julia Cochrane and Lys Burden held a vigil outside of the Jefferson County Courthouse on Monday to bring attention to the decisions made by the county commissioners last year over the Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort in Brinnon. They are concerned about the development’s impact and the possible destruction of the Kettles, a natural formation of ponds that has cultural significance to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Jeannie McMacken reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

SeaWorld Orlando orca whale Kayla dies after illness
A 30-year-old orca whale has died after a brief illness at SeaWorld Orlando, the park announced on Monday. Kayla, who was born in captivity in Texas in 1988, was one of 20 whales still housed at the company's parks. SeaWorld said Kayla's condition had deteriorated on Sunday after she showed signs of illness on Saturday.... The whale's cause of death is still unknown, pending a post-mortem. (BBC)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  208 AM PST Tue Jan 29 2019   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft  at 14 seconds. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 17 seconds.


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