3/5 Rhododendron, superbugs, classroom science, derelict vessels, oil train rule, BC fracking, Roberts Bank, king coal

Rhododendron [Albert Kok/Wikipedia]

Rhododendron
Rhododendron (from Ancient Greek ῥόδον rhódon "rose" and δένδρον déndron "tree") is a genus of 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae), either evergreen or deciduous, and found mainly in Asia, although it is also widespread throughout the highlands of the Appalachian Mountains of North America. It is the national flower of Nepal as well as the state flower of West Virginia and Washington.... Azaleas make up two subgenera of Rhododendron. They are distinguished from "true" rhododendrons by having only five anthers per flower. [Wikipedia]

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Are Turning Up in Puget Sound Marine Life
In Washington State’s Puget Sound, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are infecting the area’s harbor seals and harbor porpoises. A recent preliminary survey of 11 animals has produced worrying results: 80 percent of animals sampled carried bacteria that were resistant to an antibiotic, and more than 50 percent carried bacteria that were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Hannah Thomasy reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Washington invests $4 million this year to bring climate science into classrooms
In what’s been called the most ambitious statewide climate science education initiative in the country, Washington state is putting $4 million dollars this year toward training teachers who want to integrate climate science into their lesson plans. It’s part of fulfilling so-called "next-generation science standards," which aim to get students solving problems rather than memorizing facts. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Abandoned-boat law gives owners 'incentive' to deal with derelict vessels: B.C. boaters
The group representing recreational boaters in B.C. says boat owners now have a "reminder and an incentive'' to ensure proper disposal of vessels that are no longer seaworthy. The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act received royal assent last week and will soon become law across Canada. The Boating B.C. Association says the legislation increases owner responsibility and liability. Boat owners who don't comply will face fines of up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for companies or corporations. (Canadian Press)

Major oil train safety requirement passes Wash. state Senate
Oil trains passing through Seattle, Spokane and other cities would have to limit potentially explosive vapors to less than 9 pounds per square inch, under legislation passed Monday on a largely party line vote by the Washington State Senate. The Senate vote comes as a reaction to federal inaction. The federal government has for years failed to adopt a nationwide vapor standard for crude oil shipped by rail, particularly Bakken crude oil from North Dakota. Joel Connelly reports. (SeattlePI.Com)

Palmer: Science panel finds B.C. doesn’t know enough about fracking
A scientific panel has found B.C. doesn’t know what it needs to know about the environmental, seismic and other risks of fracking, the process whereby much of the provincial natural-gas resource is extracted form the earth. “The panel wishes to emphasize that it could not assess risks with any confidence, and therefore only potential risks are discussed herein,” wrote the three panelists in a draft version of their report. “Moreover the panel could not assess whether risk is currently being managed or not.” This after a year spent gathering research and expert opinions on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing or fracking — the injection of water and other chemicals into targeted rock formations to release natural gas trapped deep within the earth. The final report from hydrogeologist Diana Allen, geological engineer Erik Eberhardt and earth scientist Amanda Bustin was delivered late last month to Energy Minister Michelle Mungall. She hasn’t yet approved the findings and recommendations for release. Vaughn Palmer writes. (Vancouver Sun)

Field Studies Continue for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is continuing field studies in March 2019 as part of ongoing environmental and technical work for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project. Since 2011, the Port Authority has been conducting field studies at Roberts Bank and the surrounding areas that build on previous scientific work as well as address existing information gaps. According to the Port, the purpose of these studies is to determine the physical conditions (e.g., temperature and salinity) influencing biofilm presence and distribution at Roberts Bank. The Roberts Bank study area is located in the upper and mid intertidal zones north of the Roberts Bank causeway. The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project is a proposed new three-berth marine container terminal located at Roberts Bank in Delta, British Columbia, approximately 35 km south of Vancouver. (Dredging Today)

Before going green, Seattle was the city that coal built
Coal. It’s a word that evokes deeper emotional responses than one might expect from an inert chunk of old plant matter. And depending on who you are, or when you lived, it could mean different things. To some rural populations, it is a livelihood. To those concerned about climate change, it represents planetary death. The latter oppose coal trains, coal ports and the use of fossil fuels in Washington. They call for bans, divestments and eventually weaning ourselves off of the fossil fuel That is the general discussion around coal in Seattle. Yet one thing is forgotten: Seattle used to be a major coal port — the biggest in the Pacific Northwest — and the biggest supplier of coal on the West Coast. You’ve likely heard that we made our reputation on timber, but in the late 19th century, coal was king in King County. Knute Berger reports. (Crosscut) See also: For The Few Who Heat Homes With Coal, It's Still King  Jeff Brady reports. (NPR)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  240 AM PST Tue Mar 5 2019   
TODAY  E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds. 
TONIGHT  N wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds.




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